rv 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


V  V 


i 


Htppmcotfs 

Cabinet  It0tou0  of  tjj* 


NEW  JERSEY. 


PHILADELPHIA. 
tK"C<D 
1856 


THE 


HISTORY  OF  M¥  JERSEY 


rftbrat  to  tip  f  umut  €im. 


EDITED  BY 

W.  H.  CARPENTER, 

AND 

T.  S.  ARTHUR. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
LIPPINCOTT,   GRAMBO    &    CO. 

1854. 


Weston  Public  Ubrary. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1853,  by 
T.  S.  ARTHUR  AND  W.  H.  CARPENTER, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of 
Pennsylvania, 


PUBLISHERS'  PREFACE. 


THERE  are  but  few  persons  in  this  country  who 
have  not,  at  some  time  or  other,  felt  the  want  of  an 
accurate,  well  written,  concise,  yet  clear  and  reliable 
history  of  their  own  or  some  other  state. 

The  want  here  indicated  is  now  about  being  sup- 
plied; and,  as  the  task  of  doing  so  is  no  light  or 
superficial  one,  the  publishers  have  given  into  the 
hands  of  the  two  gentlemen  whose  names  appear  in 
the  title-page,  the  work  of  preparing  a  series  of  CABI- 
NET HISTORIES,  embracing  a  volume  for  each  state  in 
the  Union.  Of  their  ability  to  perform  this  well,  we 
need  not  speak.  They  are  no  strangers  in  the  literary 
world.  "What  they  undertake  the  public  may  rest 
assured  will  be  performed  thoroughly ;  and  that  no 
sectarian,  sectional,  or  party  feelings  will  bias  their 
judgment,  or  lead  them  to  violate  the  integrity  of 
history. 

The  importance  -of  a  series  of  state  histories  like 
those  now  commenced,  can  scarcely  be  estimated. 
Being  condensed  as  carefully  as  accuracy  and  interest 
of  narrative  will  permit,  the  size  and  price  of  the 
volumes  will  bring  them  within  the  reach  of  every 
family  in  the  country,  thus  making  them  home-read- 
ing books  for  old  and  young.  Each  individual  will, 

11 


8  PUBLISHERS'  PREFACE. 

in  consequence,  become  familiar,  not  only  with  the 
history  of  his  own  state,  but  with  that  of  other  states : 
— thus  mutual  interest  will  be  re-awakened,  and  old 
bonds  cemented  in  a  firmer  union. 

In  this  series  of  CABINET  HISTORIES,  the  authors, 
while  presenting  a  concise  but  accurate  narrative  of 
the  domestic  policy  of  each  state,  will  give  greater 
prominence  to  the  personal  history  of  the  people. 
The  dangers  which  continually  hovered  around  the 
early  colonists ;  the  stirring  romance  of  a  life  passed 
fearlessly  amid  peril;  the  incidents  of  border  war- 
fare ;  the  adventures  of  hardy  pioneers ;  the  keen 
watchfulness,  the  subtle  surprise,  the  ruthless  attack, 
and  prompt  retaliation — all  these  having  had  an  im- 
portant influence  upon  the  formation  of  the  American 
character,  are  to  be  freely  recorded.  While  the  progres- 
sive development  of  the  citizens  of  each  individual  state 
from  the  rough  forest-life  of  the  earlier  day  to  the 
polished  condition  of  the  present,  will  exhibit  a  pic- 
ture of  national  expansion  as  instructing  as  it  is  inte- 
resting. 

The  size  and  style  of  the  series  will  be  uniform 
with  the  present  volume.  The  authors,  who  have 
been  for  some  time  collecting  and  arranging  materials, 
will  furnish  the  succeeding  volumes  as  rapidly  as  their 
careful  preparation  will  warrant. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

New  Netherland — Traffic  with  the  Indians — Settlement  on 
Manhattan  Island — Argall's  visit  to  Manhattan  —  The 
States-General  grant  commercial  privileges  to  discoverers — 
Block  explores  the  harbour  of  New  York — Coasts  with 
Christiaanse,  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island — Manhattan 
Island  fortified — May  enters  the  Delaware  Bay — Authorities 
appointed  to  govern  New  Netherland — Alliance  with  the 
Iroquois — Increase  of  population  at  New  Amsterdam — The 
Plymouth  settlement — Dutch  West  India  Company  organ- 
ized— A  colony  planted  on  the  Delaware — Fort  Nassau 
built — Administration  of  Minuits — Commercial  prosperity 
of  New  Netherland — New  plan  for  colonization  adopted — 
Manors  of  Pavonia  and  Swanandael — De  Vries'  settlement 
at  Hoarkill — Offence  given  to  the  Indians — Massacre  of 
the  colonists — Return  of  De  Vries — Abandonment  of  the 
Swanandael  purchase Page  19 


CHAPTER  H. 

Dispute  between  the  patroons  and  the  West  India  Company 
— Manors  of  Pavonia  and  Swanandael  abolished — Wouter 
Van  Twiller  governor — Difficulties  with  the  Plymouth  co- 
lony— Rival  trading-houses  on  the  Connecticut — Governor 
Kieft — Minuits  founds  a  Swedish  colony  on  the  Delaware — 
Its  prosperous  condition — English  settlers  at  Salem  Creek — 
Dispossessed  by  the  Swedes  and  Dutch — Printz  succeeds 
Minuits  as  governor  of  New  Sweden — Encroachment  of  the 
Puritans  upon  territory  claimed  by  the  Dutch — War  with 
the  Indian  tribes  on  the  Raritan — Unsuccessful  negotiations 
for  peace — Massacre  of  the  Indians — Their  terrible  retalia* 

9 


10  CONTEXTS. 


tion — Overtures  for  peace — Council  at  Rockaway — War  re- 
newed— Settlements  on  the  Passaic  destroyed — Captain 
John  Underbill — His  successful  descents  upon  Long  Island 
— Arrival  of  reinforcenfents — Vigorous  prosecution  of  the 
war — Interposition  of  the  Mohawks — Peace  declared — Un- 
popularity of  Eieft — His  recall — Lost  at  sea Page  32 


CHAPTER  m. 

Governor  Stuyvesant — His  character — His  wise  and  cautious 
policy — Quarrel  with  New  England — Belligerent  desires  of 
Stuyvesant — The  West  India  Company  counsel  peace — Ne- 
gotiations opened — Provisional  treaty  concluded — Second 
English  attempt  to  found  a  colony  on  the  Delaware  frustrat- 
ed— Swedish  colony  threatened  by  Stuyvesant — Fort  Cassi- 
mir  constructed — Printz  builds  Fort  Elsingburg — Rising 
governor  of  New  Sweden — Takes  Fort  Cassimir  by  strata- 
gem— The  Swedes  conquered  by  Stuyvesant — Indian  hos- 
tilities— Activity  of  Stuyvesant — Prosperous  condition  of 
New  Netherland — Lord  Baltimore  claims  the  territory  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Delaware — Its  cession  to  the  city  of 
Amsterdam — Perilous  position  of  Stuyvesant — Stringent 
regulations  of  the  West  India  Company — Concessions  de- 
manded by  the  people — Haughty  reply  of  Stuyvesant — A 
popular  assembly  established — New  Netherland  granted  to 
the  Duke  of  York — Arrival  of  the  English  fleet — Stuyve- 
sant summoned  to  surrender — Capitulation 44 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Duke  of  York's  patent  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret— The 
province  of  New  Jersey — Liberal  policy  of  the  proprietaries 
— Their  concessions  to  popular  freedom — Nicholls  governor 
of  New  York — His  activity  in  colonizing  New  Albania — 
Carteret  appointed  governor  of  New  Jersey — Establishes 
his  capital  at  Elizabethtown — Inducements  held  out  to  set- 
tlers— Rapid  increase  in  population — Puritan  settlement 
on  the  Passaic — Threatened  by  the  Hackensack  Indians—* 
Peace  restored — Newark  founded — Narrow  policy  of  the 
colonists  from  Connecticut — First  legislative  session  of  New 
Jersey— Partial  adoption  of  the  harsh  New  England  code 


CONTENTS.  11 


— Local  rights  of  self-government  claimed — Opposition  to 
quit  rents — Great  dissatisfaction  throughout  the  province 
— A  new  assembly  constituted — Deposition  of  the  governor 
— Carteret  sails  for  England — Cartere^s  authority  confirm- 
ed— Power  of  the  assembly  curtailed — War  between  Eng- 
land and  Holland — Capture  of  New  York  by  the  Dutch 
— Its  restoration  to  the  English Page  55 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Duke  of  York  confirmed  in  his  title  to  New  York — An- 
dros  appointed  governor — Petition  of  New  Jersey — The 
Quakers  punished  as  recusants — Unjust  charges  against 
them — Their  principles  proscribed — Their  persecution  in 
England — Advised  to  settle  in  America — Salem  settled — 
Governments  of  Fenwicke  and  Carteret — The  boundaries 
of  East  and  West  New  Jersey  established — Constitution  pro- 
mulgated— Its  liberal  concessions — Emigration  of  wealthy 
Quakers — Anecdote  of  Charles  II. — Difficulty  with  Andros, 
governor  of  New  York — Burlington  settled — Fear  of  In- 
dian hostilities — A  special  treaty  entered  into — Speech  of 
an  Indian  sachem — Progress  of  the  colony — Increase  of 
population 65 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Dispute  between  New  York  and  East  New  Jersey — Arbitrary 
conduct  of  Andros — Claims  jurisdiction  over  New  Jersey — 
Carteret  refuses  to  resign  his  government — His  arrest — 
Tried  at  New  York  and  acquitted — Andros  attempts  to  con- 
trol the  assembly  of  East  New  Jersey — Their  spirited  re- 
sponse— Heavy  tax  on  imports — Remonstrance  of  the  New 
Jersey  proprietaries — Their  complaints  referred  to  commis- 
sioners— The  tax  pronounced  illegal — The  Duke  of  York 
relinquishes  his  claim  to  govern  New  Jersey — Byllinge  go- 
vernor of  West  New  Jersey — Appoints  Jennings  deputy- 
governor — First  legislative  assembly  convenes — Adoption 
of  a  constitution — Burlington  erected  the  capital  of  the 
province — The  assembly  maintains  its  prerogative  — 
Amendment  of  the  constitution — Jennings  elected  go- 
vernor— Is  sent  to  England — Olive  governor — Byllinge  ap- 


12  CONTENTS. 


points  John  Skene  deputy-governor — Death  of  Byllinge 
— Sale  of  his  interest  in  New  Jersey — Dr.  Coxe  claims 
entire  executive  control — A  change  foreshadowed Page  77 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Quit-rent  disputes — East  New  Jersey  purchased  by  Penn  and 
others — Extension  of  the  partnership — Robert  Barclay 
made  governor — Appoints  Thomas  Rudyard  his  deputy — 
Session  of  the  assembly — The  province  divided  into  counties 
— Administration  of  Rudyard — Gawen  Laurie  governor — 
Mixed  character  of  population  in  New  Jersey — Scottish 
emigrants — Scot  of  Pitlochie's  book — Lord  Campbell  ap- 
pointed deputy-governor  of  East  New  Jersey — James  II. 
violates  his  obligations — Difficulties  with  New  York — 
New  Jersey  threatened — Remonstrance  of  the  proprietaries 
— Surrender  of  East  and  West  New  Jersey  to  the  juris- 
diction of  the  crown — Andros  commissioned  governor 
— Flight  of  James  II. — Resumption  of  the  proprietary 
governments — Hamilton  governor — Land  titles — Hamil- 
ton superseded  by  Basse  —  Inter-provincial  disputes  — 
Hamilton  re-appointed  governor — New  Jersey  becomes  a 
royal  province 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

The  New  constitution  for  the  Jerseys — The  legislative  power 
— In  whom  vested — Slave  trade  ordered  to  be  encouraged 
— The  judiciary — Arrival  of  Lord  Cornbury — His  demand 
for  a  permanent  salary  rejected  by  the  assembly — Corn- 
bury's  illegal  proceedings — Opposed  by  Lewis  Morris  and 
Samuel  Jennings — The  assembly  wait  upon  Cornbury  with 
a  remonstrance — His  response — Retort  of  the  assembly 
— Conduct  of  Cornbnry  censured  by  the  English  ministry 
— His  removal — Imprisoned  by  his  creditors — Popular  ad- 
ministration of  Lovelace — His  death — Ingoldsby  deputy- 
governor — War  between  France  and  England — Capture  of 
Port  Royal 98 


CONTENTS.  13 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Arrival  of  Governor  Hunter — His  speech  to  the  assembly 
— His  popularity — Invasion  of  Canada  advocated  by  Ni- 
cholson— Organization  of  the  provincial  levies — Disastrous 
failure  of  the  expedition  —  Treaty  of  Utrecht — Quaker 
difficulties  in  New  Jersey — Opposition  against  Hunter — 
His  success — Provincial  demonstrations  of  regard — Burnet 
appointed  governor — His  removal  to  Massachusetts — 
Montgomery  governor — Petition  for  a  separate  government 
— Administration  of  Crosby — Of  Hamilton — Separation  of 
the  Jerseys  from  the  government  of  New  York — Morris 
commissioned  governor — Rapid  decline  of  his  popularity — 
Maintains  the  royal  prerogative — War  declared  between 
England  and  France — Shirley  plans  an  expedition  against 
Louisburg — Sharp  controversy  between  Morris  and  the 
Assembly — Death  of  Morris — Succeeded  by  Hamilton — 
Feeble  and  abortive  attempt  to  invade  Canada — Peace  of 
Aix-la-Chapelle Page  109 


CHAPTER  X. 

Belcher  governor — Revival  of  quit-rent  disputes — A  commis- 
sion of  inquiry  ordered  by  the  crown — Claims  of  France 
to  the  Ohio  valley — Mission  of  George  Washington  to 
Fort  Le  Bceuf — The  works  commenced  at  the  forks  of 
the  Ohio  seized  by  the  French — Washington  ordered 
to  protect  the  Virginia  frontier — Skirmish  and  death 
of  Jumonville — Formal  declaration  of  war — A  plan  of 
colonial  confederation  proposed — Rejected  by  the  pro- 
vinces and  the  Board  of  Trade  —  Campaign  of  1755 
— Defeat  of  Braddock — Victory  of  Lake  George — Alarm 
of  the  colonies — Indian  incursions — Campaign  of  1756 
— Loudoun  appointed  cotninander-in-chief — Descent  of 
Montcalm  on  the  forts  at  Oswego — Treaty  with  the  De- 
lawares 117 


CHAPTER  XL 

Increase  of  British  power  in  the  colonies — Subordination  of 

colonial  officers — Indignation  in  Pennsylvania  and  New 

Jersey — Campaign  of  1757 — Co-operation  of  New  Jersey 

— Expedition  against  Louisburg — Inactivity  of  Loudoun 

2 


CONTENTS. 


at  Halifax — Energetic  movements  of  Montcalm — Siege  of 
Fort  William  Henry — Surrender  of  Munro — Attempted 
massacre  of  the  prisoners — Heroic  conduct  of  Montcalin 
— Alarm  of  General  Webb — Death  of  Governor  Bel- 
cher—  Campaign  of  1758  —  Masterly  arrangements  of 
Pitt — Hearty  response  of  the  colonies — Capture  of  Louis- 
burg — Repulse  of  Abercrombie  before  Ticonderoga — Fort 
Frontenac  taken  by  Bradstreet — Evacuation  of  Fort  Du- 
quesne — Indian  council  at  the  forks  of  the  Delaware  — 
Campaign  of  1759 — Invasion  of  Canada  projected — Ti- 
conderoga and  Crown  Point  abandoned  by  the  French — 
Surrender  of  Fort  Niagara — Capture  of  Quebec — Peace  of 
Fontainebleau — Change  of  governors  in  New  Jersey — In- 
dian outrages Page  130 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Colonial  expenditures  during  the  war — Project  to  tax  Ame- 
rica— Obnoxious  to  the  colonists — Unanimity  of  the  pro- 
vinces— Stamp  Act  proposed — Remonstrance  of  the  colo- 
nies— Stamp  Act  passed — Spirited  resolutions  of  Virginia 
— National  Congress  recommended — Disapproved  of  by 
the  New  Jersey  house — Indignation  of  the  people  against 
their  representatives — House  again  convenes  at  Amboy — 
Delegates  appointed  to  the  Congress — Petition  and  remon- 
strance forwarded  to  England — New  Jersey  stamp-distri- 
butor resigns — Stamp  Tax  repealed — Party  lines  drawn — 
Opposition  to  the  Quartering  Act — Townsend's  tax  bill 
passed — Agitation  in  the  colonies — Language  of  the  New 
Jersey  house — Non-importation  agreements— Violated  by 
New  York  traders — Their  reception  in  New  Jersey — Repeal 
of  all  taxes  except  the  duty  on  tea — Popular  tumults  in 
-Montnouth  and  Essex  counties — Odious  nature  of  the  tax 
on  tea — Rendered  nugatory  by  non-importation  agree- 
ments— Parliament  endeavours  to  force  tea  into  America 
— Tea  destroyed  at  Boston  and  in  New  Jersey — Port  of 
Boston  closed — New  Jersey  people  sympathize  with  their 
Massachusetts  brethren — National  Congress  of  1774 — Battle 
of  Lexington 143 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Affair  of  Lexington — Military   activity  of   the   provincials 
—  Proceedings   of   Congress — Ticonderoga  surprised  by 


CONTENTS.  15 


Ethan  Allen — Lord  North's  conciliatory  plan  rejected  by 
New  Jersey — Organization  of  the  militia — Battle  of  Bunker 
Hill— Evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British — Declaration 
of  Independence — State  of  New  Jersey  formed — Livings- 
ton elected  governor — New  York  menaced  by  Howe — 
Activity  of  Washington — Battle  of  Long  Island- — New 
York  evacuated  by  the  Americans — Capture  of  Fort  Wash- 
ington by  the  British — Retreat  of  Washington  across  the 
Jerseys — Condition  of  his  troops — Meeting  of  the  first 
state  legislature — The  American  army  crosses  the  Dela- 
ware— Capture  of  General  Lee — Surprise  of  the  Hessians 
-at  Trenton '. Paye  157 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Washington  takes  post  at  Trenton — Cornwallis  advances 
against  him — Perilous  situation  of  the  American  com- 
mander— 'His  daring  scheme  to  escape — Attacks  and  de- 
feats the  enemy  at  Princeton — Subsequent  movements  of 
the  contending  armies — Washington  goes  into  winter 
quarters  at  Morristown — Inspiriting  effect  of  the  late 
victories — Outrages  committed  by  the  enemy — New  Jersey 
militia  take  the  field — Skirmishes  near  Springfield  and 
Hillsborough — Washington's  proclamation  to  the  disaffect- 
ed inhabitants — Exceptions  taken  to  it — Legislature  con- 
venes— Difficulties  in  framing  a  new  militia  law — Non- 
resistance  principles  respected — Dissatisfaction  of  Livings- 
ton— "  Council  of  Safety"  appointed — Its  extraordinary 
powers — Bill  to  confiscate  the  estates  of  Tories — Its  favour- 
able conditions — Plundering  expeditions  of  the  Tories  from 
New  York....  ..168 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Opening  of  the  campaign  of  1777 — American  stores  at  Peeks- 
kill  destroyed — Skirmish  at  Boundbrook — Washington  takes 
a  strong  position  at  Middlebrook — Howe's  feint  to  draw 
him  from  his  camp — Its  ill  success — Howe  retreats  to  Am- 
boy — Washington  advances  to  Quibbletown — Howe  returns 
to  attack  him — Is  again  foiled — Retires  to  Staten  Island, 
and  embarks  for  the  southward — Perplexity  of  Washington 


16  CONTEXTS. 


in  regard  to  his  movements — Loyalists  on  Staten  Island 
become  troublesome — Sullivan's  attempt  against  them — 
Howe  lands  at  the  head  of  Chesapeake  Bay — Battle  of 
Brandywine —  Wayne  surprised  at  Paoli  —  Howe  enters 
Philadelphia — Clinton  ravages  East  Jersey — Battle  of  Ger- 
mantown — American  successes  at  the  north — Movements 
on  the  Delaware — American  works  at  Byllinsport  captured 
— Defences  near  the  mouth  of  the  Schuylkill — Donop  as- 
saults Red  Bank  and  is  repulsed — Re-election  of  Livings- 
ton— Dickinson's  attempt  against  the  Staten  Island  Tories 
— Fort  Mifflin  evacuated  and  Red  Bank  abandoned — Bri- 
tish in  full  possession  of  the  Delaware — Skirmish  near 
Gloucester  Point — Washington  goes  into  winter  quarters 
at  Valley  Forge Page  17S 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Distress  of  the  American  prisoners  in  New  York — Sufferings 
of  the  army — Measures  taken  by  the  state  for  their  relief — 
Articles  of  confederation  brought  before  the  legislature  of 
New  Jersey — Alliance  between  France  and  the  United  Co- 
lonies— Objections  of  the  legislature  to  the  Articles  of  Con- 
federation— British  foraging  party  under  Mawhood  enters 
Salem  county — Conflict  at  Quinton's  Bridge — Gallant  ex- 
ploit of  Andrew  Bacon — British  forces  a  second  time  re- 
pulsed at  Quinton's  Bridge — Americans  massacred  at  Han- 
cock's Bridge — Correspondence  between  Mawhood  and 
Colonel  Hand — British  return  to  Philadelphia — Expedition 
against  Bordentown — Narrow  escape  of  Lafayette  at  Barren 
Hill — Clinton  ordered  to  evacuate  Philadelphia — He  retreats 
across  the  Jerseys — Washington  starts  in  pursuit — Battle 
of  Monmouth  Court  House — Lee's  conduct  during  the 
action  censured — He  is  arrested,  tried,  suspended,  and  finally 
dismissed  from  the  service 193 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

D'Estaing  arrives  with  a  French  fleet — Sullivan's  unsuccess- 
ful attempt  against  Newport — Massacre  of  Baylor's  cavalry 
regiment  near  Tappan — British  expedition  against  Little 
Egg  Harbour — Chestnut  Xeek  burned — Pulaski's  legion 
surprised  in  the  vicinity  of  Tuckerton — New  legislature 


CONTENTS. 


elected — Livingston  re-chosen  governor — Articles  of  Con- 
federation approved — French  fleet  sails  for  the  West  Indies 
— Campaign  of  1779 — Difficulty  with  the  Jersey  brigade — 
Capture  of  Stony  Point  by  the  British — Recaptured  by 
W^ayne — Major  Lee  surprises  the  English  garrison  at  Paulus 
hook — Sullivan's  expedition  against  the  Indians  of  New 
York— Fierce  partisan  contest  in  New  Jersey — Operations 
in  the  south — Financial  difficulties  of  Congress  —  New 
Jersey  legislature  orders  nine  millions  of  dollars  to  be 
raised — Distress  of  the  American  army  at  Morristown — 
AVashington's  requisition  upon  New  Jersey  for  supplies — 
Unsuccessful  attack  upon  Staten  Island Pays  207 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Campaign  of  1780 — South  Carolina  invaded  and  overrun  by 
the  British — Discontent  in  Washington's  army — Kny  phausen 
lands  at  Elizabethtown  Point — Marches  toward  Springfield 
— Burns  the  village  of  Connecticut  Farms — Retires  to  the 
Point — Is  joined  by  Clinton — Patriotism  of  the  Rev.  James 
Caldwell — He  becomes  obnoxious  to  the  Tories — His  wife 
is  murdered  by  a  refugee,,during  the  attack  on  Connecticut 
Farms — He  is  shot  by  a  sentinel  at  Elizabethtown  Point — 
Clinton  advances  against  Springfield — Is  met  by  Greene — • 
Springfield  burned — Clinton  retires  to  Staten  Island — Arri- 
val of  Rochambeau — Gloomy  opening  of  the  year  1781 — 
Revolt  of  the  Pennsylvania  line — Part  of  the  New  Jersey 
brigade  mutinies — Mutineers  shot — Cornwallis  in  the  south 
— Battle  of  Cowpens — Battle  of  Guilford  Court  House — 
Greene  partially  recovers  South  Carolina — Cornwallis  enters 
Virginia — Fortifies  himself  at  Yorktown — Is  besieged  by 
the  allied  armies,  and  the  fleet  under  De  Grasse — He  ca- 
pitulates— Prospect  of  peace — Tory  outrages  in  New  Jersey 
— Murder  of  Captain  Huddy — Peace 219 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Embarrassed  situation  of  the  country — Conditional  cession  of 
public  lands  by  Virginia — Objected  to — Grounds  of  New 
Jersey's  objection — Virginia  withdraws  her  condition,  and 
the  cession  is  accepted — Federal  imposts  proposed — Favour- 
ed by  New  Jersey  and  other  states — Defeated  in  conse- 
2* 


18  CONTENTS. 


quence  of  the  opposition  of  New  York — 111  feeling  thus 
created — Embarrassing  resolution  of  the  New  Jersey  legis- 
lature— National  convention  recommended — Meets  at  Phila- 
delphia— "  New  Jersey  Plan" — "Virginia  Plan"  adopted — 
Constitution  submitted  to  the  states — Ratified  by  the  New 
Jersey  convention — Republican  and  Federal  parties — Poli- 
tics of  New  Jersey — Washington  chosen  president — His 
journey  from  Mount  Vernon  to  New  York — His  reception  at 
Trenton — Trenton  established  permanently  as  the  capital 
of  the  state — Death  of  Governor  Livingston — William  Pat- 
terson governor — Is  made  an  associate  judge  in  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States — Resigns  the  executive  of  New 
Jersey — Is  succeeded  by  Richard  Howell — New  partisan 
differences — Alien  .and  sedition  laws — Decline  of  the  Fe- 
deralists— Joseph  Bloomfield  elected  governor  of  New 
Jersey  by  the  Republicans — Removal  of  the  Brotherton 
Indians Page  232 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Re-election  of  Bloomfield — Act  for  the  gradual  abolition  of 
slavery — Aaron  Burr — Sketch  of  his  life — Origin  of  his 
quarrel  with  Hamilton — He  kills  Hamilton  in  a  duel — Is  in- 
dicted for  murder  by  a  New  Jersey  grand  jury — His  jour- 
neys to  the  West — His  arrest,  trial,  and  acquittal — His  sub- 
sequent career  and  death — Is  buried  in  the  Princeton  grave- 
yard— Difficulties  between  the  United  States,  England  and 
France — British  orders  in  council — Napoleon's  retaliatory 
decrees — American  Embargo  Act — Continued  aggressions 
of  England — Affair  of  the  Chesapeake — Hostilities  declared 
— Exemption  of  New  Jersey  from  invasion — Naval  victories 
of  Bainbridge  and  Lawrence — Death  of  the  latter — Ameri- 
can successes — Peace — Governors  Aaron  Ogden,  William  S. 
Pennington,  Mahlon  Dickerson — School  fund  created  — 
Isaac  H.  Williamson  governor — Act  to  expedite  the  extinc- 
tion of  slavery — Common  schools  established — Peter  D. 
Vroom  governor — Jacksonian  and  Whig  parties — Governors 
Samuel  S.  Southard,  Elias  P.  Seeley,  Philemon  Dickerson 
— Financial  embarrassments — Triumph  of  the  Whigs — 
William  Ponnington  governor — Constitutional  convention 
— New  constitution  ratified  by  the  people — Governors  Dan. 
Haines,  Charles  C.  Stratton,  George  F.  Fort — Present  con- 
dition and  prospects  of  the  state — Conclusion....; 246 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

New  Netherland — Traffic  with  the  Indians — Settlement  on 
Manhattan  Island — Argall's  visit  to  Manhattan — The  States 
General  grant  commercial  privileges  to  discoverers — Block 
explores  the  harbour  of  New  York — Coasts  with  Christi- 
aanse,  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island — Manhattan  Island 
fortified — May  enters  the  Delaware  Bay — Authorities  ap- 
pointed to  govern  New  Netherland — Alliance  with  the  Iro- 
quois — Increase  of  population  at  New  Amsterdam — 'The 
Plymouth  settlement — Dutch  West  India  Company  organ- 
ized— A  colony  planted  on  the  Delaware — Fort  Nassau  built 
— Administration  of  Minuits — Commercial  prosperity  of 
New  Netherland  —  New  plan  for  colonization  adopted — 
Manors  of  Pavonia  and  Swanandael — De  Vries's  settle- 
ment at  Hoarkill — Offence  given  to  the  Indians — Massacre 
of  the  colonists — Return  of  De  Vries — Abandonment  of  the 
Swanandael  purchase. 

ALTHOUGH  discovered  by  a  navigator  in  the 
service  of  a  Dutch  company,  the  territory  adja- 
cent to  the  Hudson  River  was  not  formally 
claimed  by  Holland  until  after  the  lapse  of 
several  years.  In  1610,  a  few  merchants  of 
Amsterdam  fitted  out  a  ship  with  various  sorts 
of  merchandise,  and  despatched  it  to  the  newly- 
found  lands,  in  order  to  open  with  its  native  in- 

19 


20  HISTORY    OF    NEW    JERSEY.  [1613. 

habitants  a  traffic  in  furs,  which  "were  there 
both  abundant  and  cheap.  Success  attending 
this  venture,  similar  voyages  became  frequent, 
and  trading-houses  began  to  spring  up  on  Man- 
hattan Island,  and  at  Beaverwyck,  where  Albany 
now  stands. 

Antagonistic  as  these  establishments  were  to 
the  pretensions  of  England,  they  did  not  long 
remain  unnoticed  by  that  country's  agents  in 
America.  In  November,  1613,  Captain  Argall, 
of  Virginia,  while  returning  from  an  unjust  and 
useless  expedition  against  the  French  in  Acadia, 
visited  the  feeble  trading-post  at  Manhattan, 
and  compelled  the  Dutch  to  stipulate  allegiance 
to  Great  Britain,  tribute  to  Virginia,  and  the 
partial  payment  of  his  own  expenses.  But  no 
sooner  had  Argall  left  the  bay  than  the  Dutch 
flag  was  again  hoisted,  and  every  thing  went  on 
as  before. 

In  April  following  this  occurrence,  the  States- 
General  of  Holland  issued  a  decree,  grant- 
ing to  such  persons  as  should  discover  new 
lauds,  the  right  of  exclusive  trade  to-  them  for 
four  successive  voyages.  In  order  to  secure  the 
benefits  of  this  grant,  a  number  of  merchants 
entered  into  partnership,  and  fitted  out  five 
ships,  the  chief  command  of  which  they  gave  to 
Hendrick  Christiaanse,  with  .Captains  Adrien 
Block  and  Cornelius  Jacobsen  May  as  his 
subordinates. 


1613.]         MAY   ENTERS   DELAWARE   BAY.  21 

Block  was  the  first  to  reach  the  Bay  of  New 
York,  where,  his  ship  being  accidentally  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  he  built  a  small  yacht,  and  pass- 
ed through  the  East  River  into  Long  Island 
Sound.  Near  Cape  Cod  he  encountered  Chris- 
tiaanse,  returning  from  Massachusetts  Bay,  and 
together  they  examined  the  shores  of  Connecti- 
cut and  Rhode  Island  with  considerable  care  and 
thoroughness. 

Immediately  on  their  arrival  at  Manhattan, 
a  rude  fort  was  erected  on  the  southern  extre- 
mity of  the  island ;  and,  in  the  following  year, 
a  small  redoubt  was  thrown  up  on  the  opposite 
bank  of  the  Hudson,  probably  at  the  present 
Jersey  City  Point. 

May  extended  his  researches  farther  south. 
Sailing  along  the  eastern  coast  of  New  Jer- 
sey, he  rounded  the  cape  that  now  bears  his 
name,  and  entered  and  explored  the  lower  waters 
of  Delaware  Bay. 

In  the  ensuing  autumn  a  special  grant  was 
made  to  the  merchants  by  whom  Christiaanse 
had  been  employed,  dignifying  their  simple 
partnership  with  the  title  of  "  The  United  New 
Netherland  Company,"  and  confirming  the  pri- 
vileges promised  by  the  previous  decree  of  the 
States-General.  It  was  now  that  the  name  New 
Netherland  was  first  applied  to  that  part  of  the 
continent  lying  between  Cape  Cod  and  the  De- 
laware Bay.  Christiaanse,  as  Upper  Hoofdt,  or 


22  HISTOKY   OF   NEW    JERSEY.  [1613. 

chief-commander,  was  placed  at  the  head  of  af- 
fairs, with  Jacob  Elckens,  at  one  time  a  mer- 
chant's clerk  in  Amsterdam,  as  his  lieutenant. 

These  officers  appear  to  have  discharged  the 
duties  entrusted  to  them  with  judgment  and 
tact.  In  the  summer  of  1671  they  concluded 
a  formal  treaty  of  peace  and  alliance  with  the 
Iroquois,  or  Five  Nations,  at  which  the  Dela- 
wares  and  Mohicans  were  also  present.  This 
alliance  was  kept  up  for  many  years,  and  proved 
of  the  highest  advantage.  Meanwhile,  settlers 
were  gradually  coming  into  the  country,  and  the 
little  station  at  Manhattan,  which  presently  took 
the  name  of  New  Amsterdam,  began  to  wear  the 
appearance  of  a  town.  Attempts  were  likewise 
made  to  extend  the  colony;  and,  in  the  year 
following  the  treaty  with  the  Iroquois,  a  few 
traders  planted  the  village  of  Bergen,  the  first 
of  white  settlements  in  New  Jersey. 

Although  the  charter  of  exclusive  privileges, 
granted  to  the  New  Netherland  company,  had 
by  this  time  expired,  a  brisk  trade  continued  to 
be  carried  on  with  the  settlement  at  Manhattan 
for  several  years,  under  special  licenses  to  indi- 
vidual enterprise.  The  benefits  of  the  lucrative 
traffic  of  the  new  country  were  thus  opened  to  a 
larger  number,  but  yet  with  little  advantage  to 
its  growth  into  a  permanent  colony. 

In  the  mean  time,  a  body  of  English  Puritans, 
who  had  lied  from  persecution  at  home  to 


1620.]         THE   PLYMOUTH   SETTLEMENT.  23 

the  more  tolerant  institutions  of  Holland,  be- 
coming dissatisfied  with  their  residence  in  the 
Low  Countries,  determined  to  seek  some  new 
land,  where  they  might  avoid  the  less  •  austere 
manners  of  the  Dutch,  and  still  be  free  to 
practise  and  teach  the  faith  they  professed. 
The  glowing  description  given  by  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  of  Guiana,  first  drew  them  toward 
that  country;  but,  wishing  to  retain  their  na- 
tional character  and  language,  they  finally  de- 
cided upon  procuring  a  patent  for  lands  from 
the  London  or  South  Virginia  Company. 

Accordingly,  on  the  6th  of  September,  1620, 
after  having  completed  their  arrangements,  they 
made  their  final  embarkation  at  Plymouth,  on 
board  the  Mayflower,  for  the  new  world.  Their 
voyage  was  long  and  perilous.  Buffeted  about  by 
adverse  winds  and  currents,  they  were  compelled 
to  land  a  considerable  distance  north  of  where 
they  intended,  and  entirely  without  the  limits  of 
the  patent  they  held.  Resolving  to  remain, 
however,  on  the  20th  of  December  they  began 
to  erect  their  dwellings  of  hewed  logs,  and  the 
town  of  New  Plymouth  quickly  sprung  up  on  the 
shore  of  Cape  Cod  Bay.  The  colonists  soon 
after  procured  a  charter  from  the  Plymouth 
council,  which  had  superseded  the  old  company 
of  that  name,  and  to  which  the  British  crown 
had  granted,  in  total  disregard  of  the  Dutch 
claim,  all  that  part  of  the  American  continent, 


24  HISTOKY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1623. 

extending  from  the  middle  of  New  Jersey  to  the 
Bay  of  Chaleurs. 

Designing  to  make  the  settlement  on  the 
Hudson  the  basis  of  a  more  extended  American 
colonization,  the  States-General  of  Holland,  in 
the  year  following  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims, 
authorized  the  formation  of  the  celebrated  West 
India  Company,  to  the  means  of  which  they 
largely  contributed,  thus  giving  it  the  weight 
and  character  of  a  great  national  association. 

To  this  company  it  was  determined  to  commit 
the  care  of  New  Netherland,  with  an  exclusive 
privilege  of  trade  and  settlement  therein.  That 
territory  was  at  the  same  time  formally  erected 
into  a  province,  to  be  known  and  distinguished 
by  certain  armorial  insignia. 

The  new  company  sent  out  their  first  ship  in 
1623,  under  the  command  of  May,  with  a  num- 
ber of  colonists,  and  a  large  store  of  provisions, 
merchandise,  and  arms.  Having  landed  a  por- 
tion of  his  passengers  and  cargo  at  New  Amster- 
dam, May  sailed  to  the  Delaware  River,  where 
it  was  proposed  to  plant  a  colony.  He  chose  a 
spot  on  the  eastern  shore,  near  the  mouth  of 
Timber  Creek,  a  few  miles  below  the  present 
city  of  Camden,  and  there  built  Fort  Nassau. 
Leaving  a  small  body  of  men  as  a  guard  for  the 
infant  settlement,  May  returned  to  the  Hudson, 
high  up  which  Fort  Orange  was  soon  afterward 
built,  on  the  present  site  of  Albany. 


1627.]  COMMEKCIAL   PROSPEKITY.  25 

In  the  following  year,  Peter  Minuits,  a  na- 
tive of  Wesel,  in  Westphalia,  arrived  at  New 
Amsterdam,  to  act  as  governor,  or  commercial 
director  of  the  colony.  Under  his  administra- 
tion, which  lasted  till  1631,  affairs  glided  on 
smoothly,  and,  in  a  commercial  point  of  view, 
prosperously.  Lands  were  now  purchased  from 
the  Indians ;  among  others,  the  whole  of  Man- 
hattan Island,  for  sixty  guilders,  or  about  twenty- 
four  dollars.  The  fort  at  New  Amsterdam  was 
enlarged,  and  that  place  made  the  capital  of  the 
colony.  The  trade  of  the  province  was  extend- 
ed, even  to  the  Indians  upon  the  St.  Lawrence  ; 
and  in  the  first  four  years  it  increased  one-half, 
while  the  income  derived  from  it  was  full  a  third 
more  than  the  outlay  of  the  company. 

In  1627,  Minuits,  for  the  first  time,  held  com- 
munication with  the  Puritans,  now  firmly  esta- 
blished at  Plymouth,  after  six  years  of  wearisome 
effort.  Letters  were  sent  to  the  governor  of 
New  Plymouth,  congratulating  him  and  his 
people  upon  the  success  of  their  adventure, 
and  proposing  a  friendly  intercourse  and  trade. 
Governor  Bradford  and  his  council  answered  in 
courteous  language,  expressing  their  lasting  re- 
membrance of  the  kindness  they  had  received 
while  in  the  native  country  of  the  Dutch.  With 
regard  to  the  proposal  for  commercial  inter- 
course, they  said  that  "it  was  very  acceptable 
to  them,  and  they  did  not  doubt  but  that  iu  a 


26  HISTORY   OP  NEW   JERSEY.  [1628. 

short  time  they  might  have  profitable  trade  to- 
gether." In  concluding,  however,  they  plainly 
intimated  their  doubt  as  to  the  validity  of  the 
title  of  their  neighbours  to  the  lands  they  were 
then  occupying;  and  requested  them  "to  for- 
bear to  trade  with  the  natives  in  the  bay  and 
river  of  Narraganset,"  as,  "  otherwise,  they 
were  resolved  to  solicit  his  majesty  for  redress, 
if  by  any  means  they  could  not  help  them- 
selves." 

To  this  the  Dutch  replied  firmly,  yet  with 
unruffled  calmness,  insisting  upon  the  justness 
of  their  claim,  and  declaring  their  determination 
to  uphold  it. 

The  good  feeling  between  the  two  colonies 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  interrupted  by 
this  difference ;  for  but  a  short  time  elapsed 
when  De  Razier,  second  in  command  at  New 
Amsterdam,  was  sent,  with  much  pomp  and  cere- 
mony, as  special  envoy  to  the  English.  TJie 
Pilgrims  were  greatly  pleased  with  the  appear- 
ance and  demeanour  of  the  Dutch  envoy,  who, 
on  his  part,  was  equally  gratified  at  the  manner 
of  his  reception  and  entertainment.  Yet  he 
was  unable  to  procure  any  definite  treaty  with 
the  English,  they  urging  that,  in  the  then  doubt- 
ful condition  of  the  title  to  New  Netherland,  a- 
matter  so  important  should  be  arranged  by  the 
ministers  of  their  respective  nations. 

As  yet  the  colonization  of  New  Netherland 


1629.]  PATROONS.  27 

had  increased  but  slowly.  In  1629,  a  scheme  to 
promote  the  peopling  of  the  country  was  adopt- 
ed by  the  directors  of  the  West  India  Company, 
and  sanctioned  by  the  States-General.  A  char- 
ter of  privileges  and  exemptions  was  drawn  up, 
under  which  any  person,  who  within  four  years 
planted  in  New  Netherland  a  colony  of  fifty 
souls,  above  the  age  of  fifteen,  might  acquire, 
by  purchase  from  the  Indians,  as  an  "  eternal 
heritage,"  and  with  the  title  of  patroon,  or  lord 
of  the  manor,  a  tract  of  land  extending  sixteen 
miles  along  one  side  of  a  navigable  stream,  or 
half  that  distance  on  each  bank,  and  reaching 
as  far  inland  as  he  deemed  necessary.  With 
the  approbation  of  the  director  and  council  of 
the  province,  all  other  persons,  emigrating  on 
their  own  account,  were  free  to  take  up  as  much 
land  as  they  could  properly  cultivate.  The  com- 
pany was  pledged  to  protect  the  colonists  of 
every  degree  and  condition,  from  "  outlandish 
and  inlandish  wars  and  powers,"  and  to  furnish 
the  manors  with  negro  slaves,  if  the  traffic  were 
found  profitable.  At  the  same  time  it  reserved 
to  itself  the  trade  in  furs,  and  monopolized  the 
sale  of  woollen,  linen,  and  cotton  fabrics,  by 
prohibiting  their  manufacture  in  the  colony. 

Even  before  this  charter  was  ratified  by  the 
States-General,  two  of  the  directors  of  the  com- 
pany, Godyn  and  Bloemart,  prepared  to  secure 
a  portion  of  the  advantages  it  offered,  by  com- 


28  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1630. 

missioning  their  American  agents  to  purchase 
from  the  resident  chiefs,  a  slip  of  land  two  miles 
wide,  and  extending  from  Cape  Henlopen  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Delaware  River.  On  the  5th  of 
May,  1630,  a  second  tract,  sixteen  miles  square, 
and  comprising  Cape  May  with  the  adjacent 
country,  was  purchased  on  behalf  of  the  same 
individuals.  Staten  Island,  and  the  country 
around  Hoboken,  under  the  name  of  Pavonia, 
were  soon  after  taken  up  for  the  Director  Pauw, 
while  Kilian  Van  Rensselaer  became  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  considerable  territory  along  the 
Hudson,  from  Albany  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Mohawk. 

Naming  their  purchase  Swanandael,  or  the 
Valley  of  Swans,  Godyn  and  his  associates  at 
once  prepared  to  colonize  it.  An  expedition 
was  fitted  out,  under  the  direction  of  David  Pe- 
terson De  Vries,  an  experienced  navigator,  who 
had  been  admitted  into  the  company.  Sailing 
from  the  Texel,  in  December,  1630,  De  Vries, 
after  a  quick  passage,  landed  at  Hoarkill,  now 
Lewistown,  on  the  western  shore  of  the  Dela- 
ware Bay,  where  he  built  a  trading-house  and 
fort,  and  planted  a  colony  of  thirty-four  persons. 
Having  remained  in  the  country  more  than  a 
year,  he  returned  to  Holland  for  supplies,  leaving 
the  infant  settlement  under  the  care  of  one  Giles 
Osset.  Meantime,  Pauw  and  Van  Rensselaer 
had  secured  their  claims  to  patroonships,  by 


1631.]         MASSACRE   OF   THE   COLONISTS.  29 

pending  out  a  number  of  colonists  to  settle  on 
their  respective  tracts. 

De  Vries  had  left  the  Delaware  hut  a  little 
while,  when  Osset  hegan  a  quarrel  with  the  In- 
dians, on  account  of  one  of  their  chiefs  having 
taken  a  plate  of  tin,  stamped  with  the  arms  of 
Holland,  from  a  post  in  Swanandael,  to  which  it 
had  been  fastened,  as  a  token  of  the  claim  and 
possession  of  the  Dutch.  Foolishly  construing 
this  light  trespass  into  a  national  insult,  Osset 
so  harassed  the  Indians  for  redress,  that,  to  get 
rid  of  his  importunities,  they  brought  him  the 
offender's  head.  The  Dutch  commandant  was 
shocked  at  this  unexpected  and  sanguinary  re- 
sult, and  told  the  Indians  that  he  had  wished  for 
no  such  severity,  intending  to  punish  the  delin- 
quent with  nothing  but  a  simple  reprimand. 
Though  they  had  themselves  condemned  and  ex- 
ecuted the  offending  chief,  his  friends  now  plot- 
ted a  terrible  retribution  upon  the  strangers,  to 
whose  exactions  they  attributed  his  death. 
Taking  advantage  of  a  time  when  all  the 
colonists  but  Osset  and  a  single  sentinel  were 
labouring  in  the  fields,  at  a  distance  from 
the  fort,  the  savages  entered  it,  bearing  packs 
of  furs,  and  offered  to  trade.  Unsuspicious  of 
evil,  Osset  ascended  to  the  upper  store-room  of 
the  fort,  in  order  to  get  some  articles  of  mer- 
chandise, to  exchange  for  the  peltries  of  the  In- 
dians. As  he  came  down  stairs  again,  a  warrior 


30  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1632. 

cleft  his  skull  with  a  tomahawk,  and  he  fell 
dead  without  a  groan.  The  sentinel  was  next 
despatched.  From  this  scene  of  blood  the  In- 
dians now  sauntered  out  to  the  fields,  greeting 
the  labourers  in  a  friendly  way.  Mixing  freely 
with  their  intended  victims,  they  suddenly  fell 
upon  them,  and  in  a  few  moments  not  one  was 
left  alive. 

When,  in  December,  1632,  De  Vries  returned 
from  Holland,  he  found  no  white  man  to  wel- 
come him  to  the  shores  of  the  Delaware.  .The 
bones  of  his  friends  were  bleaching  in  the  fields, 
and  the  dwellings  they  had  erected  were  reduced 
to  ashes.  His  proffered  friendship  at  length  in- 
duced a  few  doubting  and  trembling  savages  to 
come  on  board  his  ship,  and  from  them  he  heard 
the  details  of  the  sad  fate  that  had  befallen  the 
little  colony.  Policy,  as  well  as  the  natural 
kindness  of  his  heart,  led  De  Vries  to  overlook 
the  offence  of  the  Indians ;  and,  having  distri- 
buted presents  among  them,  he  formed  a  treaty 
of  peace  and  reconciliation.  Landing  a  num- 
ber of  emigrants,  he  soon  afterward  sailed  in 
search  of  provisions,  as  high  up  the  river  as 
Cooper's  Creek,  where  he  narrowly  escaped  de- 
struction from  the  treachery  of  the  savages. 
Deeming  the  creek  a  convenient  place  to  attack 
him,  they  directed  De  Vries  to  bring  his  vessel 
into  it,  pretending,  at  the  same  time,  they 
had  there  the  articles  he  needed.  But,  as  he 


1632.]  SWANANDAEL   ABANDONED.  31 

had  been  forewarned  by  an  Indian  woman  of  the 
snare  that  was  laid  for  him,  he  avoided  it,  and 
returned  down  the  river  to  Fort  Nassau,  which 
now  swarmed  with  savages,  the  garrison  having 
deserted  it  nearly  two  years  previous.  Many  of 
the  Indians  came  on  board  the  ship,  offering 
beaver-skins  for  sale.  Telling  them  that  the 
Great  Spirit  had  acquainted  him  with  their  evil 
designs,  De  Vries  compelled  the  whole  party  to 
go  on  shore.  Several  of  the  principal  chiefs 
now  collected  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  sig- 
nified their  wish  to  form  a  treaty  of  friendship, 
to  which  the  mild  and  peaceful  leader  of  the 
Dutch  readily  acceded.  To  confirm  the  new 
treaty,  the  Indians,  according  to  their  custom, 
made  him  many  presents,  but  would  accept  none 
in  return,  saying  that  they  did  not  give  presents 
with  the  view  of  receiving  others. 

Finding  it  impossible  to  obtain  sufficient  pro- 
visions on  the  Delaware,  De  Vries  soon  after- 
ward set  sail  for  Virginia,  where  he  met  a  kindly 
reception,  and  was  supplied  with  all  he  wanted. 
Returning  to  the  scene  of  his  unsuccessful  at- 
tempt at  colonization,  he  took  on  board  the  few 
settlers  he  had  left,  and  made  his  way  to  New 
Amsterdam. 


32  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1632. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Dispute  between  the  patroons  and  the  "West  India  Company 
— Manors  of  Pavonia  and  Swanandael  abolished — Wouter 
Van  Twiller  governor — Difficulties  with  the  Plymouth  co- 
lony— Rival  trading-houses  on  the  Connecticut — Governor 
Kieft — Minuits  founds  a  Swedish  colony  on  the  Delaware — 
Its  prosperous  condition — English  settlers  at  Salem  Creek — 
Dispossessed  by  the  Swedes  and  Dutch — Printz  succeeds 
Minuits  as  governor  of  New  Sweden — Encroachment  of  the 
Puritans  upon  territory  claimed  by  the  Dutch — War  with 
the  Indian  tribes  on  the  Raritan — Unsuccessful  negotiations 
for  peace — Massacre  of  the  Indians — Their  terrible  retalia- 
tion— Overtures  for  peace — Council  at  Rockaway — War  re- 
newed— Settlements  on  the  Passaic  destroyed  —  Captain 
John  Underbill — His  successful  descents  upon  Long  Island 
— Arrival  of  reinforcements — Vigorous  prosecution  of  the 
war — Interposition  of  the  Mohawks — Peace  declared — Un- 
popularity of  Kieft — His  recall — Lost  at  sea. 

IN  the  mean  time,  a  sharp  quarrel  had  sprung 
up  between  the  patroons  and  the  West  India 
Company;  the  former  claiming  an  exclusive 
right  to  trade  within  the  limits  of  their  respec- 
tive territories,  while  the  latter  contended  for  a 
monopoly  in  the  fur  traffic,  and  charged  the 
patroons  with  having  grasped  at  undue  advan- 
tages, by  purchasing  such  extensive  and  favour- 
ably located  tracts.  A  long  and  serious  dispute 
resulted,  and  it  was  finally  settled  only  by 
abolishing  the  manors  of  Pavonia  and  Swanan- 
dael. 


1933.]  COMMERCIAL   RIVALRY.  33 

During  the  progress  of  this  quarrel,  Governor 
Minuits  "fell  into  disputes  with  the  company," 
the  consequences  of  which  were  his  displacement 
and  recall  to  Holland.  His  successor,  "VVouter 
Van  Twiller,  formerly  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of 
the  West  India  Company,  arrived  at  New  Am- 
sterdam in  the  spring  of  1633. 

During  the  five  years  that  Van  Twiller  was 
governor  of  New  Netherland,  but  little  worthy 
of  historical  notice  occurred.  Several  new 
trading-posts  were  established,  and  the  fur  traffic 
extended,  while  many  improvements  were  made 
and  farms  opened  on  the  island  of  Manhattan. 
It  was  during  this  period,  however,  that  the 
good  feeling  hitherto  existing  between  the  Man- 
hattanese  and  their  Plymouth  neighbours  gave 
way  to  the  jealousies  created  by  commercial  ri- 
valry ;  and,  at  the  close  of  Van  Twiller 's  admi- 
nistration, both  the  Dutch  and  the  English,  in 
defiance  of  each  other's  remonstrances,  had  built 
trading-houses  and  begun  settlements  on  the 
Connecticut  River.  About  the  same  time  a  few 
English,  under  the  leadership  of  one  Captain 
Holmes,  attempted  to  plant  a  colony  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Fort  Nassau,  but  being  dis- 
covered by  the  Dutch,  the  whole  party  were 
made  prisoners,  and  carried  to  New  Amsterdam. 

Van  Twiller  having  fallen  under  the  suspicion 
of  being  more  faithful  to  his  own  interests  than 
to  those  of  the  province,  the  West  India  Com- 


34  HISTORY   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  [1638. 

pany,  in  March,  1638,  notified  him  of  his  dis- 
missal from  office,  and  appointed  William  Kieft 
to  be  his  successor. 

The  new  governor  was  a  man  of  great  energy, 
but  passionate  and  overbearing,  and  with  little 
of  the  cool  decision  necessary  to  carry  him  well 
through  the  difficulties  that  soon  on  all  sides  be- 
set his  administration. 

One  of  his  first  acts  was  to  issue  a  sharp  pro- 
test against  the  English  plantations  on  the  Con- 
necticut. Treating  this  remonstrance  with  silent 
contempt,  the  English  went  steadily  on  with  their 
settlements.  Kieft  was  illy  prepared  to  resist 
with  any  thing  more  forcible  than  words,  and  so 
endured,  as  best  he  could,  the  aggressions  he  was 
not  able  to  prevent. 

Scarcely  a  month  afterward,  a  new  competitor 
for  the  territories  claimed  by  the  Dutch  as  a 
portion  of  New  Netherland,  appeared  on  the 
waters  of  Delaware  Bay. 

As  early  as  1626,  Gustavus  the  Great,  of 
Sweden,  had  cherished  the  design  of  planting  a 
colony  in  America ;  but  the  subsequent  war  with 
Germany,  and  the  death  of  the  Swedish  monarch, 
delayed  its  execution  for  many  years.  In  1633, 
however,  the  project  was  revived  by  Oxenstiern, 
the  enlightened  chancellor  of  Christina,  the 
daughter  and  successor  of  Gustavus. 

Indignant  at  having  been  removed  from  his 
office,  Minuits,  the  former  governor  of  New  Ne- 


1638.]  SWEDISH   COLONY.  35 

therland,  now  offered  his  services  to  conduct  the 
Swedish  enterprise.  Oxenstiern  did  not  long 
hesitate  to  accept  his  offer,  and  two  ships,  the 
Key  of  Calmar  and  the  Griffin,  were  presently 
made  ready  and  placed  under  his  orders.  Sail- 
ing in  these  two  vessels,  well  provided  with  a 
a  store  of  provisions  and  merchandise,  the  little 
colony  of  Swedes  and  Fins  arrived  off  Cape 
Henlopen,  or,  as  they  called  it,  Paradise  Point, 
early  in  the  spring  of  1638.  Having  purchased 
the  lands  from  this  point  to  the  falls  at  Trenton, 
they  formed  a  nucleus  for  their  contemplated 
settlement,  by  building  a  fort  near  the  mouth  of 
Christiana  Creek,  on  the  western  shore  of  the 
Delaware.  Kieft  immediately  issued  a  sharp 
remonstrance  against  the  new  colony,  declaring 
that  it  occupied  lands  which  the  Dutch  had  already 
studded  with  their  forts,  and  sealed  with  their 
blood.  Determined  to  remain,  the  Swedes  made 
every  preparation  to  defend  themselves ;  but 
Kieft,  with  unaccountable  forbearance,  went  no 
further  than  to  authorize  the  erection  of  a  fort 
at  Lewistown. 

As  time  glided  by,  the  Swedish  colony  on  the 
Delaware  increased  and  prospered.  Vessels 
were  continually  arriving,  crowded  with  emi- 
grants from  the  bleak  plains  and  rugged  hills 
of  Scandinavia.  Though  the  Dutch  regarded 
the  settlement  with  a  jealous  eye,  they  made  no 
attempt  to  disturb  it  for  many  years ;  and,  on 


36  HISTORY   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  [1641. 

one  occasion,  at  least,  they  and  the  Swedes 
leagued  together  against  the  encroachments  of 
the  English. 

In  1641,  while  Sir  Edmund  Ployden  was 
vainly  endeavouring  to  settle  his  Palatinate  of 
New  Albion,  comprising  the  country  from  Mary- 
land to  Connecticut,  a  company  of  nearly  fifty 
families  sailed  from  New  Haven,  to  plant  a  colo- 
ny upon  the  Delaware.  They  finally  disembark- 
ed upon  the  banks  of  what  is  now  Salem  Creek, 
a  few  miles  above  its  mouth,  and  began  to  clear 
fields  and  erect  houses.  Van  Gessendam,  the 
Dutch  commandant  at  Fort  Nassau,  sent  notice 
of  these  intruders  to  Kieft,  who  immediately 
despatched  two  vessels  with  orders  to  reduce  or 
disperse  the  colony. 

Equally  watchful,  the  Swedish  commandant 
had  marked  the  English  when  they  entered  the 
bay ;  and,  with  a  view  to  dispossess  them  of  the 
territory  they  had  occupied,  he  sent  an  agent 
to  purchase  the  whole  tract  from  its  Indian 
owners.  When  the  expedition  fitted  out  by 
Kieft  made  its  appearance,  the  Swedes  joined 
with  the  Dutch,  and  they  presently  proceeded 
together  to  the  English  settlement,  took  the  colo- 
nists prisoners,  burned  their  houses,  and  confis- 
cated their  goods. 

Minuits  having  died  about  this  time,  Colonel 
John  Printz  succeeded  him  as  governor  of  New 
Sweden,  arriving  in  the  Delaware  on  the  16th 


1643.]  WAR   WITH    THE   INDIANS.  37 

of  February,  1643.*  Landing  upon  the  island 
of  Tennekong,  or  Tinicum,  a  few  miles  below 
Philadelphia,  he  built,  with  huge  hemlock  logs, 
the  Fort  of  New  Gottenburg,  around  which  the 
houses  of  the  emigrants  who  had  accompanied 
him  soon  began  to  cluster. 

"While  the  Swedes  were  setting  up  their  au- 
thority over  the  Dutch  possessions  on  the  De- 
laware, the  English  continued  to  narrow  the 
limits  of  New  Netherland  upon  the  north.  At 
any  other  time,  it  is  probable  that  Kieft  would 
have  disputed  every  inch  of  the  ground  with  the 
intruders ;  but  Indian  disturbances  had  broken 
out,  and  he  was  now  fully  occupied  in  contending 
with  an  enemy  that  seemed  bent  upon  his  de- 
struction. 

This  desperate  and  sanguinary  contest  began 
in  the  summer  of  1640.  Having  been  charged 
with  the  commission  of  a  few  petty  thefts,  the 
Indian  tribes  upon  the  Raritan  were  visited  by 
a  party  of  Dutch  soldiers,  and  several  of  their 
leading  chiefs  subjected  to  insult  and  gross  mal- 
treatment. The  maddened  savages,  in  the  fol- 
lowing year,  retaliated  by  murdering  the  settlers 
and  laying  waste  the  plantations  on  Staten 
Island.  Not  long  afterward  a  Dutchman  was 
slain  by  an  Indian  of  the  Raritan  tribe,  who, 
when  a  boy,  had  witnessed  the  murder  of  a 
kinsman  by  the  whites,  and  had  sworn  to  avenge' 
it.  The  offender's  nation  having  refused  to 


38  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1643- 

deliver  him  up,  they  were  gutlawed,  and  a  price 
set  upon  their  heads.  During  the  following 
year  they  evinced  a  disposition  to  yield,  and 
steps  were  taken  toward  a  treaty  of  reconcilia- 
tion. But,  while  these  negotiations  were  pend- 
ing, an  Indian,  the  son  of  a  chief,  was  made 
drunk  and  then  robbed  by  some  Dutch  traders. 
Furious  from  a  sense  of  the  wrong  he  had  suffer- 
ed, and  blinded  by  intoxication,  the  savage  took 
revenge  by  shooting  down  the  first  white  man 
that  fell  in  his  way.  Expressing  their  grief  for 
this  unfortunate  occurrence,  a  deputation  of 
chiefs  waited  upon  Kieft,  and  offered  to  com- 
pound the  murder  by  paying  a  fine  of  two  hun- 
dred fathoms  of  wampum.  The  governor  was 
inexorable,  and  demanded  the  fugitive ;  but  the 
Indians  were  unable  or  unwilling  to  surrender 
him. 

Contrary  to  the  advice  of  the  pacific  De  Vries, 
Kieft  now  determined  upon  an  exterminating  war 
against  the  savages.  Imitating  the  cunning  of 
those  he  plotted  to  destroy,  the  governor  kept 
from  them  every  intimation  of  the  evil  that  was 
impending,  and  directed  a  continuance  of  kind 
intercourse  with  them,  "until  God's  will  and 
proper  opportunity  should  be  offered."  That 
opportunity  came  in  February,  1643. 

Descending  from  their  strongholds  in  the 
north,  a  war-party  of  the  Mohawks  made  an 
onslaught  upon  the  tribes  around  Manhattan, 


1643.]  MASSACRE   OF   INDIANS.  39 

and  compelled  them  to  seek  the  vicinity  of  the 
Dutch  for  protection.  Many  of  the  colonists 
were  disposed  to  pity  them,  and  gave  them  food  ; 
but  Kieft,  seizing  the  chance,  joined  with  their 
foes,  and  determined  upon  their  destruction. 
Accordingly,  on  the  night  of  the  25th  of  Febru- 
aro,  a  party  of  soldiers  was  sent  across  the 
Hudson  to  Pavonia,  where  a  large  number  of  the 
trembling  fugitives  had  collected.  The  Indians 
were  sleeping  without  guards,  and  in  no  expecta- 
tion of  evil.  Their  surprise  was  complete,  and 
scarcely  a  hatchet  was  raised  in  defence.  Eighty 
of  their  number,  men,  women,  and  children, 
were  cruelly  massacred.  "This  was  a  feat," 
wrote  De  Vries,  "  worthy  the  heroes  of  old 
Rome — to  massacre  a  parcel  of  Indians  in  their 
sleep,  to  take  the  children  from  the  breasts  of 
their  mothers,  and  to  butcher  them  in  the  pre- 
sence of  their  parents,  and  throw  their  mangled 
limbs  into  the  fire  or  water !  Other  sucklings 
had  been  fastened  to  little  boards,  and  in  this 
position  they  were  cut  in  pieces !  Some  were 
thrown  into  the  river,  and  when  the  parents 
rushed  in  to  save  them,  the  soldiers  prevented 
their  landing,  and  let  parents  and  children 
drown."  During  the  same  night  a  second  party 
of  soldiers  fell  upon  the  Indians  at  Corlear's 
Hook.  No  mercy  was  shown.  Forty  miserable 
savages  were  butchered  in  cold  blood;  some 
while  sleeping,  others  while  flying  without  a  show 


40  HISTORY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1643. 

of  resistance  ;  and  many,  having  crawled  away 
in  the  darkness,  were  found  at  day-break,  stiffen- 
ed with  wounds,  and  put  to  death. 

Kieft  gave  the  returning  troops  an  exulting 
welcome,  and  liberally  rewarded  them  for  their 
services.  But  his  triumph  was  brief.  The  e-x- 
asperated  savages  inflicted  a  terrible  retaliation. 
Discovering  that  the  massacres  they  had  at  first 
attributed  to  their  enemies,  the  Mohawks,  were 
in  reality  committed  by  the  whites,  they  sallied 
out  in  every  direction,  and,  in  a  few  days,  almost 
depopulated^  the  country  around  Manhattan. 
Villages  were  burned,  farms  desolated,  men  and 
women  murdered,  and  children  carried  into  cap- 
tivity. The  Dutch  colony  was  brought  to  the 
brink  of  ruin;  and,  in  their  terror,  all  the  inha- 
bitants that  could,  sought  safety  by  a  return  to 
Holland. 

Kieft  was  now  compelled  to  sue  for  peace. 
Satisfied  with  the  vengeance  they  had  inflicted, 
sixteen  sachems  of  the  Long  Island  tribes  con- 
sented to  meet  a  deputation  o£»  the  colonists, 
at  Rockaway,  on  the  5th  of  March,  1643. 
Having  assembled  around  the  council-fire,  one 
of  the  chieftains  presently  arose,  holding  in  his 
hand  a  bundle  of  little  sticks,  and  thus  addressed 
the  Dutch  envoys : 

"When  you  first  arrived  on  our  shores,  you 
were  destitute  of  food ;  we  gave  you  our  beans 
and  our  corn;  we  fed  you  with  oysters  and  fish; 


1643.]         UNSUCCESSFUL   NEGOTIATIONS.  41 

and  now,  for  our  recompense,  you  murder  our 
people." 

With  these  words  the  orator  laid  down  one 
stick,  thus  indicating  that  this  was  his  first 
charge.  Continuing,  he  said  : 

"  The  traders  whom  your  first  ships  left  on 
our  shore  to  traffic  till  their  return,  were  cherish- 
ed by  us  as  the  apple  of  our  eye  :  We  gave  them 
our  daughters  for  their  wives :  among  those 
whom  you  have  murdered,  were  children  of  your 
own  blood."  Having  concluded  his  second  com- 
plaint, the  chief  put  down  another  stick,  while 
many  remained  in  his  hand,  to  show  the  number 
of  accusations  that  were  still  to  come. 

Through  the  influence  of  Roger  Williams,  the 
Long  Island  sachems  finally  agreed  upon  a 
truce,  and  a  month  later,  the  Raritan  and  other 
river  Indians  likewise  came  to  terms.  Peace, 
however,  lasted  but  a  little  while.  It  was  hard 
for  the  savages  to  forget  the  injuries  they  had 
sustained — one  had  lost  a  father ;  a  second,  a 
mother ;  many,  their  children,  kinsmen  and 
friends  ;  they  still  nursed  the  hope  of  revenge. 
"The  presents  we  have  received,"  said  an  old 
chief,  mournfully,  "bear  no  proportion  to  our 
loss — the  price  of  blood  has  not  been  paid.' 

At  length  the  discontent  of  the  tribes  broke 
out  in  a  fresh  war.  -In  September  a  detachment 
of  soldiers  were  taken  prisoners,  and  in  the 

following  month  the  settlements  near  the  mouth 

4* 


42  HISTORY   OP   NEW   JERSEY.  [1644. 

of  the  Passaic  were  laid  waste.  Affairs  now 
became  even  more  serious  than  they  were  in 
the  previous  disturbances.  Driven  from  their 
plantations,  the  terrified  colonists  collected 
in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Fort  Am- 
sterdam, where  for  nearly  two  years  they  linger- 
ed, sometimes  on  the  brink  of  starvation,  and 
momentarily  fearing  an  attack  that  would  end  in 
their  extermination. 

But  whatever  may  have  been  the  faults  of 
Kieft,  he  did  not  lack  spirit.  Soon  as  the 
war  was  renewed,  he  bestirred  himself  to  save 
the  colony.  Having  vainly  applied  to  the 
authorities  of  Connecticut  for  assistance,  he 
hired  Captain  John  Underbill,  an  English  sol- 
dier, already  famed  as  an  Indian  fighter,  to 
take  command' of  the  Dutch  troops.  With  a 
little  army  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men, 
Underbill  entered  upon  a  series  of  fierce  and 
energetic  measures.  Partially  beaten  at  times, 
and  on  oth^r  occasions  seriously  harassed, 
the  courage  of  the  Indians  began  to  give  way. 
Closely  following  up  his  lesser  triumphs,  Un- 
derbill, in  1644,  made  two  sanguinary  descents 
upon  Long  Island — in  the  first,  killing  near  a 
hundred  savages,  and  taking  many  prisoners ; 
while,  in  the  second,  he  attacked  an  Indian 
town,  set  fire  to  it,  and  put  to  death  five  hun- 
dred of  the  inhabitants,  who  had  assembled  to 
•celebrate  one  of  their  yearly  festivals. 


1647.]         PEACE  CONCLUDED.          43 

With  these  victories  the  hopes  of  the  colonists 
began  to  return.  The  Indians  were  weary  of 
being  hunted  like  wild  beasts,  and  several  of  the 
tribes  sued  for  peace.  At  length  the  West 
India  Company  were  enabled  to  send  a  rein- 
forcement of  troops  to  Manhattan,  and  Kieft  de- 
termined upon  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  hostili- 
ties. At  this  moment  the  Mohawks  interposed, 
and  sent  an  envoy  to  their  friends,  the  Dutch,  to 
exert  his  influence  in  favour  of  peace.  His  mis- 
sion succeeded.  Delegates  from  the  tribes  of 
New  Jersey,  and  other  hostile  nations,  met  in 
council  with  the  authorities  of  New  Netherland, 
in  front  of  Fort  Amsterdam,  and  on  the  30th 
of  August,  1645,  a  solemn  treaty  put  an  end  to 
the  war. 

The  rejoicings  of  the  colonists  on  this  occa- 
sion were  great,  and  they  set  apart  a  day  for 
public  praise  and  thanksgiving.  Yet  the  memory 
of  the  troubles  they  had  endured,  and  the  losses 
they  had  suffered,  pressed  heavily  on  their 
minds,  and  fostered  a  desire  for  the  removal  of 
Kieft,  whose  rash  and  barbarous  policy  had  in- 
volved them  in  so  much  difficulty.  Complaints 
of  his  mismanagement  at  length  reached  the 
West  India  Company.  Finding  that  their  own 
interests  would  be  advanced  by  a  change  of  go- 
vernors, they  finally  sent  out  a  recall  to  Kieft, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1647  he  embarked  for  Hol- 
land. Encountering  a  furious  storm,  the  ships 


44  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1647. 

in  winch  he  sailed  was  dashed  ashore  on  the 
coast  of  Wales,  and  the  merciless  governor,  to- 
gether with  some  eighty  companions,  was  swal- 
lowed up  in  the  waves. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Governor  Stuyvesant — His  character — His  wise  and  cautious 
policy — Quarrel  with  New  England — Belligerent  desires  of 
Stuyvesant — The  West  India  Company  counsel  peace — Ne- 
gotiations opened — Provisional  treaty  concluded — Second 
English  attempt  to  found  a  colony  on  the  Delaware  frustrat- 
ed— Swedish  colony  threatened  by  Stuyvesant — Fort  Cassi- 
mir  constructed  —  Printz  boilds  Fort  Elsingburg  —  Rising 
governor  of  New  Sweden — Takes  Fort  Cassimir  by  strata- 
gem— The  Swedes  conquered  by  Stuyvesant — Indian  hos- 
tilities— Activity  of  Stuyvesant — Prosperous  condition  of 
New  Netherland — Lord  Baltimore  claims  the  territory  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Delaware — Its  cession  to  the  city  of 
Amsterdam — Perilous  position  of  Stuyvesant — Stringent 
regulations  of  the  West  India  Company — Concessions  de- 
manded by  the  people — Haughty  reply  of  Stuyvesant — A 
popular  assembly  established — New  Netherland  granted  to 
the  Duke  of  York — Arrival  of  the  English  fleet — Stuyvesant 
summoned  to  surrender — Capitulation. 

IN  May,  1647,  the  governor  appointed  to  suc- 
ceed Kieft  arrived  at  New  Amsterdam.  His 
name  was  Stuyvesant,  a  brave  and  experienced 
soldier,  honest,  frank,  and  tolerably  learned,  but 
somewhat  haughty  in  his  bearing  toward  the 
poorer  classes,  of  whom  he  did  not  profess  to 
hold  a  very  high  opinion.  Before  receiving  his 


1647.]     TERRITORIAL   QUARREL   RENEWED.         45 

present  commission  he  had  held  the  office  of  vice- 
director  at  Caraccas,  where  his  services  had  been 
such  as  to  gain  him  the  good  regards  of  the 
West  Indian  Directory. 

The  new  governor  promptly  applied  himself  to 
averting  the  dangers  which  on  all  sides  threaten- 
ed his  province.  Taught  by  the  calamities  of 
his  predecessors,  he  wisely  adopted  a  gentle  and 
forbearing  policy  in  his  dealings  with  the  natives, 
thus  keeping  the  period  of  his  administration 
almost  undisturbed  by  Indian  wars.  His  chief 
concern,  however,  was  centered  in  the  doubtful 
attitude  assumed  by  the  English  and  by  the 
Swedes. 

Immediately  after  Stuyvesant's  arrival,  the 
commissioners  of  New  England  addressed  him  a 
letter  of  congratulation,  concluding  with  an  ear- 
nest appeal  for  reparation  of  the  injuries  they 
had  received  from  Kieft.  Without  justifying 
all  the  acts  of  Kieft,  Stuyvesant  made  a  counter- 
claim for  redress,  and  demanded  a  restoration 
of  the  Dutch  territories  on  the  Connecticut. 
The  old  territorial  quarrel  was  thus  renewed  in 
all  its  bitterness.  Already  involved,  the  question 
now  became  more  and  more  knotty,  with  little 
or  no  prospect  of  its  happy  solution.  Never 
having  admitted  the  title  of  the  Dutch  to  any 
territory  in  America,  the  New  England  men  ex- 
tended their  settlements,  even  threatening  to  oc- 
cupy the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  Protests  and 


46  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1651. 

counter  protests  drew  hard  words  from  both 
parties;  and  the  fiery  Stujvesant  would  probably 
have  resorted  to  arms,  but  the  West  India 
Company,  to  whom  he  applied  for  authority  and 
assistance,  earnestly  counselled  peace.  "War," 
said  they,  "  cannot  in  any  event  be  to  our  ad- 
vantage ;  the  New  England  people  are  too  power- 
ful for  us." 

Negotiation  being  the  only  course  left  him, 
Stuyvesant  repaired  to  Hartford,  where  a  con- 
vention of  delegates,  representing  the  interests 
of  both  nations,  was  presently  held.  After  a 
series  of  lengthy  discussions,  on  the  19th  of 
September,  1650,  a  provisional  treaty  was  con- 
cluded, making  the  boundary  between  the  two 
colonies,  to  begin  at  Greenwich  on  the  main,  and 
at  Oyster  Bay,  on  Long  Island.  This  inter- 
colonial treaty  received  the  sanction  of  the 
States-General,  and  of  the  West  India  Company, 
but  was  never  ratified  by  the  British  crown. 

The  claim  of  the  New  Haven  people  to  lands 
on  Salem  Creek  was  still  undecided,  and  they 
now  attempted  for  the  second  time  to  plant  a 
colony  in  that  region.  Commissioned  by  Go- 
vernor Eaton,  who  gave  them  a  friendly  letter 
of  explanation  to  Stuyvesant,  a  little  company 
of  emigrants  sailed  from  Connecticut  River  for 
the  Delaware,  early  in  the  spring  of  1651 ;  but 
stopping  at  Manhattan  to  deliver  their  message 
to  Stuyvesant,  they  were  arrested,  and  obliged 


1654.]  FORT    ELSINGBURG   BUILT.  47 

to  return  to  New  Haven,  whence  they  imme- 
diately addressed  a  petition  to  the  New  England 
commissioners,  begging  them  to  protect  their 
persons  and  property,  and  to  maintain  "  the 
honour  of  the  English  nation."  Choosing  rather 
"  to  suffer  affronts  for  a  while,  than  to  seem  to 
be  too  quick,"  the  commissioners  would  not  com- 
mit themselves  at  that  time,  inasmuch  as  the 
governor  of  New  Netherland  had  signified  his 
determination  to  resist,  at  all  hazards,  every  at- 
tempt to  plant  colonies  upon  the  land  in  dispute. 

Uneasy  at  the  progress  of  the  Swedish  settle- 
ments upon  the  Delaware,  Stuyvesant  now  bent 
his  efforts  in  that  direction.  For  the  protection 
of  the  Dutch  commerce,  already  suffering  from 
the  restrictions  imposed  upon  it  by  the  Swedes, 
he  built  Fort  Cassimir,  near  the  mouth  of 
Brandywine  Creek,  and  not  more  than  five  miles 
from  (Christiana.  Having  issued  an  unheeded 
protest  against  this  movement,  Printz,  who  was 
still  governor  of  New  Sweden,  built  Fort  Elsing- 
burg,  a  little  distance  below,  on  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  Delaware  ;  but  a  great  swarm  of  musqui- 
toes  presently  falling  upon  the  garrison,  they 
were  compelled  to  evacuate  the  newly-erected 
works. 

The  proximity  of  Fort  Cassimir  to  the  Swedish 
garrison  at  Christiana,  led  to  a  series  of  petty 
quarrels,  which  were  kept  up  until  1654,  when 
John  Rising,  now  governor  of  New  Sweden, 


48  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1655. 

I 

combining  stratagem  -with  a  superiority  in  force, 
mastered  the  Dutch  troops,  and  took  possession 
of  their  fort.  This  grievous  insult  awoke  the 
ire  of  the  West  India  Company,  who  directed 
Stuyvesant  to  "revenge  their  wrong,  to  drive 
the  Swedes  from  the  river,  or  compel  their  sub- 
mission." Collecting  a  force  of  six  hundred 
men,  Stuyvesant  appeared  in  the  Delaware,  in 
September,  1655.  He  first  assailed  and  took 
Fort  Elsingburg,  which  the  Swedes  had  again 
occupied.  Forts  Cassimir  and  Holy  Trinity  were 
next  reduced,  and  finally  the  victorious  Dutch 
compelled  the  submission  of  Gottenburg,  the 
capital  of  New  Sweden,  where  Rising  himself 
commanded.  Honourable  terms  were  granted  to 
the  vanquished  Swedes,  the  peaceable  possession 
of  their  estates  being  assured  to  them,  upon  con- 
dition that  they  would  acknowledge  the  authority 
of  the  States-General.  Thus  fell,  never  to  rise 
again,  the  only  colonial  establishment  of  Sweden 
in  the  New  World. 

Upon  his  return  from  the  Delaware,  Stuyvesant 
found  the  colonists  in  a  wretched  state  of  terror 
and  despondency.  Taking  advantage  of  the 
absence  of  so  large  a  number  of  the  warlike  in- 
habitants, the  river  tribes  in  the  vicinity  of 
Manhattan  had  collected  a  fleet  of  over  sixty 
canoes,  laid  waste  the  neighbouring  farms,  and 
even  appeared  in  hostile  array  before  New  Am- 
sterdam. But  the  presence  of  Stuyvesant  in- 


1660.J  CLAIM   OF   LORD    BALTIMORE.  49 

fused  fresh  courage  into  the  breasts  of  the 
Manhattanese,  and  prompt  and  active  measures 
were  taken,  -which  soon  restored  the  colony  to 
hope  and  confidence. 

It  was  now  that  for  a  time  the  Dutch  were 
permitted  to  rejoice  in  the  possession  of  New 
Netherland.  Quiet  and  prosperity  seemed  at 
last  to  have  crowned  their  efforts.  Their  power 
in  America  was  apparently  fixed  upon  a  perma- 
nent foundation.  But  scarcely  had  this  hope 
been  entertained,  when  new  dangers  began  to 
threaten  their  existence.  The  partially  settled 
dispute  with  the  New  England  colonies  broke  out 
with  additional  asperity ;  and,  while  Stuyvesant 
was  engaged  in  that  direction,  a  fresh  quarrel 
sprung  up  with  the  English  in  the  south,  who 
were  preparing  to  wrest  from  his  authority  the 
lately-acquired  territory  of  New  Sweden. 

On  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.  to  the  throne 
of  Great  Britain,  in  1660,  Lord  Baltimore,  the 
proprietary  of  Maryland,  insisted  upon  a  right 
he  had  previously  urged,  to  the  whole  territory 
claimed  by  the  Dutch,  westward  of  the  Delaware 
River.  Declaring  that  they  had  bought  and  co- 
lonized the  lands  in  dispute  long  before  Lord 
Baltimore's  patent  was  in  existence,  the  West 
India  Company  refused  to  yield  up  their  posses- 
sions, and  avowed  their  firm  resolve  "  to  defend 
them,  even  to  the  spilling  of  blood."  At  length, 
fearful  of  encroachments  from  the  south,  they 
5 


50  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1660. 

transferred  the  whole  colony,  extending  from  the 
falls  at  Trenton  to  Cape  Henlopen,  to  the  city 
of  Amsterdam. 

At  the  same  time,  Massachusetts  was  claiming 
the  Pacific  for  her  western  boundary,  while  Con- 
necticut advanced  step  by  step  toward  the  Hud- 
son. Stuyvesant  saw  the  peril  of  his  position. 
"Alas  !"  he  wrote  to  the  West  India  Company, 
"  the  English  are  as  ten  to  one  in  number  to  us, 
and  are  able  to  deprive  us  of  the  country  when 
they  please."  Resorting  again  to  negotiation, 
he  repaired  in  person  to  Boston,  but  effected 
nothing.  A  similar  diplomatic  mission  to  Hart- 
ford was  equally  barren  of  good.  The  English 
would  not  acknowledge  the  right  of  New  Nether- 
land  to  any  American  territory  at  all. 

While  thus  New  Netherland  was  threatened 
with  dangers  from  without,  the  internal  condi- 
tion of  things  was  illy  calculated  to  foster  a  ge- 
nuine public  spirit.  Unwise  in  their  conceptions 
of  government,  the  West  India  directors  would 
allow  no  security  for  popular  rights  and  privi- 
leges, such  as  were  enjoyed  by  the  people  of 
New  England.  Clinging  to  arbitrary  power, 
they  insisted  on  making  the  laws  of  the  colony, 
appointing  its  officers,  and  deciding  all  its  con- 
troversies. Little  alteration  had  been  made  in 
the  original  plan  of  government,  and  such  changes 
as  were  wrought  by  the  growth  and  widen- 
ing interests  of  the  province,  related  wholly  to 


1663.]       STRUGGLE  FOR  FREEDOM.       51 

commercial  privileges,  and  not  to  political  en- 
franchisement. Transplanted  to  New  Nether- 
land  by  emigrants  from  the  English  colonies,  the 
notion  of  popular  freedom  took  deep  root  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  of  the  province,  and  they 
entered  into  an  earnest  struggle  to  ameliorate 
their  political  condition.  A  convention  met  at 
New  Amsterdam,  in  1663,  and,  among  other 
things,  demanded  that  the  people  should  share 
in  the  enactment  of  those  laws  by  which  they 
were  governed.  Having  exhausted  his  arguments 
against  this  demand,  Stuyvesant,  who  had  but 
little  faith  in  "  the  wavering  multitude,"  com- 
manded the  convention  to  separate,  under  a 
threat  of  severe  punishment.-  "We,"  said  the 
proud  governor  to  the  retiring  members,  "  We 
derive  our  authority  from  God  and  the  West 
India  Company,  and  not  from  the  pleasure  of  a 
few  ignorant  subjects."  And  in  this  haughty 
and  overbearing  assumption  he  was  fully  sus- 
tained by  the  company.  "  Have  no  regard  to 
the  will  of  the  people,"  said  they,  in  their  in- 
structions ;  «  let  them  no  longer  indulge  the  vi- 
sionary dream  that  taxes  can  be  imposed  only 
with  their  consent."  But  the  desire  of  the  peo- 
ple' for  political  freedom  was  not  to  be  easily 
rooted  out ;  and  many  were  found  willing  to  yield 
quietly  to  English  rule,  if  they  could  but  obtain 
a  share  in  the  rights  and  privileges  of  their  Pu- 
ritan neighbours. 


52  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY  [1664. 

It  was  when  the  colonists  were  in  this  state  of 
indifference,  that  dangers  began  to  thicken  around 
New  Netherland.  Conscious  that  it  was  now 
necessary  to  create  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  Stuy- 
vesant  became  more  and  more  willing  to  enlarge 
the  privileges  of  the  masses,  and  in  1663  he 
conceded  a  poplar  assembly.  But  the  concession 
came  too  late  to  effect  its  object.  Rumours  of  a 
threatened  invasion  from  England  found  the 
people  still  indifferent,  and  disposed  to  shift  upon 
the  West  India  Company  all  care  for  the  inte- 
grity of  the  province. 

At  length  rumour  became  certainty.  Disre- 
garding the  claims  of  Holland,  Charles  II.  of 
England,  in  the  year  1664,  granted  to  his  bro- 
ther James,  Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  a  patent 
for  territories  in  which  was  comprised  the  pro- 
vince of  New  Netherland.  An  armament,  con- 
sisting of  three  ships,  with  one  hundred  and 
thirty  guns,  and  six  hundred  men,  was  imme- 
diately made  ready,  and  sent  to  take  possession 
of  the  countries  named  in  the  patent  to  the  Duke 
of  York.  Colonel  Nicholls,  who  had  served 
under  the  celebrated  Turenne,  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  invading  force,  with  authority  to 
act  as  governor  of  the  province  when  it  should 
be  subjugated.  Having  touched  at  Boston,  where 
instructions  were  left  to  raise  a  body  of  troops  to 
join  the  expedition,  the  fleet  sailed  for  the  Hud- 


1664.]     SURRENDER    OF   NEW   AMSTERDAM.         53 

son  River,  and  arrived  in  front  of  New  Amster- 
dam on  the  27th  of  August,  1664. 

Soon  as  the  English  armament  appeared,  a 
deputation  from  Stuyvesant  and  the  city  bore  a 
letter  to  Nicholls,  desiring,  «  with  all  respect  and 
civility,"  to  know  the  motive  of  his  presence. 
The  British  commander  replied  by  demanding  of 
Stuyvesant  the  immediate  recognition  of  English 
sovereignty,  at  the  same  time  offering  security 
to  the  lives,  liberties,  and  estates,  of  all  who 
would  quietly  submit. 

Though  greatly  outnumbered  by  the  English, 
Stuyvesant  was  yet  loth  to  surrender  without  a 
struggle.  At  the  first  rumour  of  the  designs  of 
Britain,  he  had  spiritedly  proposed  that  every 
third  man  should  be  called  into  service,  "  as  had 
more  than  once  been  done  in  fatherland."  And 
now,  when  summoned  to  surrender,  he  invited  the 
burgomasters  and  council  of  the  city  to  meet 
him,  and  vainly  endeavoured  to  infuse  into  them 
some  portion  of  his  own  martial  spirit.  But, 
believing  that  they  would  in  the  end  be  conquer- 
ed, the  peaceful  burghers  could  see  no  use  in 
prolonging  a  contest,  which  might  cost  them 
much  blood  and  treasure,  with  no  corresponding 
return.  They  asked  to  see  the  summons  of  the 
English  commander.  Knowing  that  they  would 
eagerly  accept  the  terms  it  offered,  Stuyvesant 
hesitated  and  then  refused.  Again  and  again 
they  urged  their  request,  when,  enraged  at  their 
5* 


54  HISTORY   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  [1664. 

importunity,  the  passionate  governor  tore  the 
letter  in  fragments,  and  dashed  it  at  the  feet  of 
the  startled  burghers. 

For  several  days  longer,  Stuyvesant  sturdily 
held  out — now  negotiating,  and  again  assuming  an 
attitude  of  defiance.  Nicholls  had  threatened  to 
inflict  the  horrors  of  war,  in  case  of  a  refusal  to 
surrender.  "Touching  your  threat,"  was  Stuy- 
vesant's  undaunted  reply,  "  we  have  nothing  to 
answer,  only  that  we  fear  nothing,  but  what  God, 
who  is  just  and  merciful,  shall  lay  upon  us,  all 
things  being  in  his  gracious  disposal ;  and  we  may 
as  well  be  preserved  by  him  with  small  forces  as 
by  a  great  army — which  makes  us  to  wish  you 
all  happiness  and  prosperity,  and  to  recommend 
you  to  his  protection."  But  this  show  of  confi- 
dence was  of  little  avail;  and,  at  length,  beset 
by  dissensions  within,  and  a  numerous  enemy 
without,  the  old  governor  reluctantly  consented 
to  terms  of  honourable  capitulation.  The  re- 
maining forts  on  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  soon 
after  surrendered,  and  the  whole  of  New  Nether- 
land  fell  quietly  into  the  possession  of  England. 


1664.]      BERKELEY  AND  CARTERET.      55 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Duke  of  York's  patent  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret — The 
province  of  New  Jersey — Liberal  policy  of  the  proprietaries 
— Their  concessions  to  popular  freedom — 'Nicholls  governor 
of  New  York — His  activity  in  colonizing  New  Albania — 
Carteret  appointed  governor  of  New  Jersey — Establishes  his 
capital  at  Elizabethtown — Inducements  held  out  to  settlers — 
Rapid  increase  in  population — Puritan  settlement  on  the 
Passaic — Threatened  by  the  Hackensack  Indians — Peace 
restored — Newark  founded — Narrow  policy  of  the  colonists 
from  Connecticut — First  legislative  session  of  New  Jersey — 
Partial  adoption  of  the  harsh  New  England  code — Local 
rights  of  self-government  claimed — Opposition  to  quit  rents 
— Great  disaffection  throughout  the  province — A  new  as- 
sembly constituted — Deposition  of  the  governor — Carteret 
sails  for  England — Carteret's  authority  confirmed — Power 
of  the  assembly  curtailed — War  between  England  and  Hol- 
land— Capture  of  New  York  by  the  Dutch — Its  restoration 
to  the  English. 

NEARLY  two  months  previous  to  the  conquest 
of  New  Netherland,  the  Duke  of  York,  in  con- 
sideration "  of  a  competent  sum  of  money,"  had 
assigned  to  Lork  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carte- 
ret,  favourite  courtiers  of  the  king,  all  that  por- 
tion of  the  province  lying  westward  of  Long 
Island,  and  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Dela- 
ware, on  the  east  by  the  Hudson  and  the  main 
ocean,  and  on  the  north  by  the  forty-first  degree 
and  fortieth  minute  of  latitude.  To  this  region 


56  HISTORY    OF    XEW   JEKSEY.  [1664. 

was  given  the  name  of  Nova  Cresaria,  or  New 
Jersey,  out  of  compliment  to  Carteret,  who,  in 
1649,  had  gallantly  defended  the  little  Isle  of 
Jersey,  of  which  he  was  then  governor,  against 
the  forces  of  the  Long  Parliament. 

The  first  care  of  the  proprietaries  was  to  peo- 
ple their  province.  Wisely  foreseeing  that  a 
policy  favourable  to  popular  freedom  would  best 
promote  that  end,  they  drew  up  and  published, 
as  the  fundamental  law  of  the  colony,  a  paper 
of  "Concessions  and  Agreement,"  the  general 
tone  of  which  was  highly  liberal.  To  all  actual 
settlers  they  offered  tracts  of  land,  varying  in 
extent  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
according  to  the  time  of  their  arrival  in  the 
province,  and  to  the  number  of  their  bound  ser- 
vants and  slaves.  An  annual  quit-rent  of  a 
half-penny  the  acre  was  to  be  required  for  their 
allotments  after  the  year  1670.  A  governor  and 
council  of  twelve,  nominated  by  the  proprie- 
taries, and  an  equal  number,  at  least,  of  repre- 
sentatives chosen  by  the  people,  were  to  consti- 
tute the  legislative  assembly.  The  enactments 
of  this  body  were  to  be  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  proprietaries,  who  also  reserved  to  them- 
selves the  appointment  of  judicial  officers.  No 
taxes  were  to  be  levied,  except  with  the  authority 
and  consent  of  the  colonial  assembly.  Freedom 
of  conscience  and  worship  was  guarantied  to  all 
citizens,  provided  that  freedom  was  not  used  "  to 


1664.]  ERECTED   INTO   A   PROVINCE.  57 

licentiousness,  and  to  the  civil  injury  or  outward 
discomfort"  of  others."  Ample  provision  was 
made  for  the  support  of  clergymen,  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  colonial  assembly  ;  but  permission 
was  at  the  same  time  allowed  the  colonists  to  as- 
sociate for  the  maintenance  of  such  ministers  as 
they  might  prefer. 

The  territory  thus  erected  into  a  province, 
with  such  security  for  the  liberties  of  its  settlers, 
was  then  scarcely  more  than  an  uninhabited 
wilderness.  Its  native  population  was  by  no 
means  large,  and  consisted  of  a  few  scattered 
clans  of  the  inoffensive  Delawares.  With  the 
exception  of  the  little  hamlet  of  Bergen,  nothing 
that  could  be  called  a  town  had  resulted  from 
the  various  attempts  to  establish  European  set- 
tlements. In  the  neighbourhood  of  Bergen,  and 
along  the  western  shore  of  Newark  Bay,  the 
plantations  of  the  Dutch  were  numerous,  while 
here  and  there,  through  the  present  counties  of 
Gloucester  and  Burlington,  a  few  Swedish  farm- 
ers had  built  their  cabins,  and  cleared  lands  for 
cultivation.  At  Long  Point,  opposite  Mattini- 
cunk  Island,  where  Burlington  now  stands,  three 
Dutch  families  had  established  themselves,  form- 
ing the  largest  collection  of  civilized  habitations 
in  all  West  Jersey. 

Immediately  after  the  surrender  of  New  Ne- 
therland,  Nicholls  assumed  the  government  of 
the  province,  as  lieutenant  of  the  Duke  of  York. 


58  HISTOKY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1665. 

Ignorant  of  the  transfer  of  New  Jersey,  he  pre- 
pared to  colonize  the  eastern  portion  of  it,  to 
which  he  gave  the  name  of  Albania.  With  his 
sanction,  an  extensive  territory,  bordering  upon 
Newark  Bay,  was  purchased  from  the  Indians  by 
a  few  New  England  Puritans,  who  settled  on  it 
during  the  year  1664.  In  the  spring  of  1665  a 
similar  patent  was  issued,  under  the  same  sanc- 
tion, for  the  country  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ra- 
ritan  to  Sandy  Hook ;  and,  before  Nicholls  could 
be  informed  of  the  change  of  ownership,  he  was 
able  to  congratulate  himself,  that,  "  on  the  new 
purchases  from  the  Indians,  three  towns  were 
already  beginning." 

The  hasty  zeal  of  Nicholls  to  colonize  his 
cherished  Albania,  "preferable  to  all  the  re- 
maining tracts,"  led  to  long  and  tedious  litiga- 
tion, which  seriously  disturbed  the  tranquillity  of 
the  province  for  more  than  half  a  century. 

Meanwhile,  Philip  Carteret,  a,  brother  to  one 
of  the  proprietaries,  having  been  commissioned 
as  governor  of  New  Jersey,  was  making  prepa- 
rations to  depart  for  the  western  world.  Sailing 
from  England  in  the  ship  Philip,  and  accompanied 
by  about  thirty  emigrants,  he  arrived  in  the  pro- 
vince some  time  during  the  month  of  August, 
1665.  Carrying  in  his  hand  a  hoe,  to  remind 
his  little  company  of  the  design  that  had  brought 
them  across  the  ocean,  he  landed  at  a  place  to 
which  the  name  of  Elizabethtown  was  presently 


1665.]  INDUCEMENTS   TO    SETTLERS.  59 

given,  in  honour  of  the  kind-hearted  Lady  Carte- 
ret."  Four  families  from  New  England  had 
already  made  here  one  of  the  "beginnings" 
spoken  of  by  Nicholls,  who  now  warmly  urged 
the  Duke  of  York  to  revoke  the  grant,  by  which, 
without  knowing  it,  he  had  given  away  the  fair- 
est portion  of  his  province.  But  it  was  too 
late.  Satisfied  with  the  freedom  they  enjoyed, 
the  colonists  did  not  second  his  appeals.  The 
independent  existence  of  New  Jersey  was  se- 
cured. 

Having  elevated  his  little  village  of  log  huts 
to  the  dignity  of  a  provincial  capital,  Carteret 
actively  bestirred  himself  to  augment  the  popu- 
lation and  prosperity  of  the  colony  under  his 
charge.  Messengers  were  sent  abroad  to  set 
forth  the  happy  situation  of  the  province,  the 
liberality  of  its  institutions,  the  cheapness  of 
its  lands,  the  richness  and  fertility  of  the  soil 
along  its  rivers,  its  mild  and  healthy  climate, 
the  peaceful  character  of  its  few  aboriginal  in- 
habitants, and  its  nearness  to  long-established 
colonies,  by  which  the  distresses  of  an  adven- 
turer into  a  new  country  would  be  done  away 
with.  Seconded  by  all  these  recommenda- 
tions, the  efforts  of  Carteret  were  followed  by 
surprising  success.  From  New  England,  Long 
Island,  and  from  Great  Britain,  the  province 
soon  received  large  additions  to  its  population. 
Elizabethtown,  and  then  Middletown  and  Shrews- 


60  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1666. 

bury,  all  founded  before  the  coming  of  Carteret, 
grew  up  into  thriving  villages,  the  two  latter  still 
retaining  certain  local  powers  of  self-government 
which  had  been  granted  to  them  by  Nicholls. 
No  less  thriving  were  the  settlements  of  Pisca- 
tawa  and  Woodbridge,  established  during  the 
year  1666,  by  emigrants  from  New  England. 

Early  in  the  same  year,  an  association  of 
church  members,  from  three  several  towns  in 
Connecticut,  sailed  into  the  Passaic,  and  landed 
at  a  point  previously  selected,  "  beyond  the 
marshes  lying  to  the  north  of  Elizabethtown." 
Scarcely  had  the  emigrants  brought  their  goods 
from  shipboard,  when  a  party  of  Hackensac  In- 
dians appeared  on  the  ground,  claiming  the  soil 
as  their  own,  and  insisting  that  it  should  be  paid 
for  before  the  settlement  could  go  on.  Having 
selected  the  tract  in  expectation  that  Carteret 
was  authorized  to  extinguish  the  Indian  title,  the 
disheartened  colonists  prepared  to  abandon  their 
enterprise  ;  but,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the 
governor,  they  agreed  to  hold  a  council  with  the 
natives,  from  whom  they  purchased  the  territory 
comprising  more  than  one-half  the  present  county 
of  Essex,  paying  for  it  in  goods  and  wampum, 
valued  at  about  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds, 
New  England  currency.  Having  thus  settled 
their  difficulty  with  the  Indians,  the  emigrants 
immediately  began  to  erect  a  town,  to  which  they 
presently  gave  the  name  of  Newark.  Constitut- 


1668.]         FIRST    LEGISLATIVE   ASSEMBLY.  61 

ing  themselves  on  the  narrow  and  intolerant 
principle  of  withholding  certain  political  rights 
from  all  persons  not  subscribing  to  the  doctrines 
"of  some  one  of  the  Congregational  churches," 
they  resolved,  "with  one  heart  and  consent,"  "to 
carry  on  their  spiritual  concernments,  as  well  as 
their  civil  and  town  affairs,  according  to  God  and 
a  godly  government;"  and  to  be  ruled  "by  such 
officers  as  the  town  should  annually  choose  from 
among  themselves,"  under  "the  same  laws  as 
they  had  in  the  place  from  whence  they  came." 
The  influence  of  the  Puritan  emigrants  was 
felt  in  the  first  assembly  of  New  Jersey,  which 
commenced  its  session  at  Elizabethtown,  on  the 
26th,  and  closed  on  the  30th  of  May,  1668. 
Transferring  the  main  points  of  the  New  Eng- 
land codes  to  the  statute-book  of  the  province,  a 
bill  of  pains  and  penalties  was  passed,  closely 
copying  the  heretical  law,  and  making  twelve 
crimes,  under  certain  circumstances,  punishable 
with  death.  But  little  additional  business  was 
completed,  several  bills  being  left  over  to  the  en- 
suing session,  which  opened  on  the  3d  of  No- 
vember in  the  same  year.  During  this  session 
no  acts  of  importance  were  carried  through, 
from  a  want  of  harmony  between  the  two 
branches  of  the  assembly.  There  were  besides 
other  signs  of  approaching  trouble.  Resting  on 
the  ground  of  their  local  rights  of  self-govern- 
ment, the  towns  of  Shrewsbury  and  Middletown 

6 


62  HISTORY   OF   XEW   JERSEY.  [1670. 

now  denied  the  authority  of  the  assembly,  by 
refusing  to  allow  the  collection  of  certain  taxes 
which  had  been  levied  in  accordance  with  an  en- 
actment of  the  previous  session.  As  they  "had 
been  represented  in  the  popular  branch,  this 
proceeding  was  a  singular  one,  and  showed  far 
more  independence  than  consistency.  Having 
refused  to  take  the  usual  oaths  of  allegiance  to 
the  province,  their  deputies  to  the  second  meet- 
ing of  the  assembly  were  refused  admittance. 
Here  the  matter  appears  to  have  rested  for  a 
time ;  but  other  and  greater  troubles  were  soon 
to  follow. 

For  nearly  eighteen  months  afterward,  how- 
ever, aifairs  went  on  with  tolerable  smoothness, 
and  the  province  continued  to  increase  in  popu- 
lation and  importance.  But  when  the  first  pay- 
ment of  the  quit-rents  was  called  for,  on  the 
25th  of  March,  1670,  the  smothered  discontent 
of  the  colonists  broke  out  in  violent  opposition 
to  the  demand.  Foremost  to  treat  the  claim  of 
the  proprietaries  with  contempt,  were  the  early 
settlers  of  Elizabethtown.  They  had  come  into 
the  country,  with  the  sanction  of  Nicholls,  be- 
fore the  transfer  of  New  Jersey  to  its  present 
proprietors.  They  had  purchased  their  lands 
from  the  Indian  and  rightful  owners  of  the  soil, 
and  the  title  they  had  thus  acquired  was,  accord- 
ing to  their  notions,  far  superior  to  any  right 
the  proprietaries  could  have.  Consequently, 


1672.]  OPPOSITION   TO    QUIT-RENTS.       ,          63 

they  would  pay  no  quit-rents.  Other  settlers, 
who  had  arrived  in  the  province  at  a  later  pe- 
riod, pretended  to  class  themselves  with  these  ; 
and  in  a  short  time  the  whole  colony  was  in  a 
tumult  of  litigation.  For  two  years  matters 
continued  to  grow  more  and  more  confused,  until 
the  political  condition  of  the  province  was  almost 
one  of  complete  anarchy. 

In  May,  1672,  the  disaffected  colonists  even 
went  so  far  as  to  constitute  a  new  assembly,  by 
which  body  the  proprietary  governor  was  dis- 
placed, and  a  successor  appointed  in  the  person 
of  James  Carteret,  a  worthless  natural  son  of 
Sir  George.  Proclamations  were  immediately 
issued  against  this  proceeding,  but  they  availed 
nothing.  All  power  had  gone  over  to  the  usurper. 
At  length,  finding  his  authority  disregarded,  his 
officers  imprisoned  and  their  estates  confiscated, 
the  governor  followed  the  advice  of  his  council, 
and  proceeded  to  England,  leaving  John  Berry 
to  act  as  deputy  in  his  absence. 

At  the  request  of  the  proprietaries,  the  Duke 
of  York  soon  after  sent  out  a  letter  unfavour- 
able to  the  claims  of  the  colonists.  This  was 
followed  by  one  from  the  king,  confirming  the 
authority  of  Carteret,  and  requiring  obedience 
to  the  officers  appointed  by  the  lords'  proprie- 
tors. New  "concessions"  were  also  drawn  up, 
somewhat  curtailing  the  original  powers  of  the 
assembly,  by  transferring  to  the  governor  and 


64  HISTORY   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  [1673. 

council  the  sole  right  of  approving  such  ministers 
as  might  be  nominated  by  the  several  towns,  and 
of  regulating  the  meetings  and  adjournments  of 
the  legislature. 

At  the  same  time  a  period  was  fixed  of  three 
years  from  1673,  at  the  expiration  of  which  all 
quit-rents  were  to  be  paid  up,  and  the  malecon- 
tents  to  submit  to  the  terms  of  the  proprietaries. 
But,  before  the  appointed  time  came  round,  war 
broke  out  between  England  and  Holland.  The 
States-General  immediately  despatched  a  small 
squadron  to  harass  the  commerce  of  the  British 
colonies.  Having  captured  many  English  tra- 
ders homeward-bound  from  Virginia,  they  de- 
termined to  attempt  the  re-capture  of  New  York. 
Governor  Lovelace  was  absent,  and  Captain 
Manning,  with  a  company  of  regulars,  in  com- 
mand of  the  fort.  At  the  first  summons  of  the 
Dutch,  who  appeared  before  New  York  late  in 
July,  1673,  Manning  surrendered.  Exercising 
moderation  in  the  hour  of  their  triumph,  the 
forces  of  the  States-General  easily  gained  the 
submission  of  the  remaining  parts  of  the  pro- 
vince. New  Jersey,  and  the  settlements  on  the 
Delaware,  quietly  followed  their  example,  and 
New  Netherland  again  enjoyed  a  momentary 
existence. 

Having  thus  reconquered  their  American  co- 
lony, the  Dutch  immediately  prepared  a  code  of 
mild  and  liberal  laws  for  its  regulation.  But 


1674.]         NEW   NETHERLAND   RESTORED.  65 

scarcely  had  the  new  code  gone  into  general 
operation,  when  peace  was  concluded  between 
Holland  and  Great  Britain,  on  the  9th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1674.  By  the  sixth  article  of  this  treaty, 
a  mutual  restoration  of  conquests  was  agreed 
upon ;  and,  on  the  31st  of  the  following  Octo- 
ber, New  Netherland  was  finally  transferred  to 
England. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Duke  of  York  confirmed  in  his  title  to  New  York — An- 
dros  appointed  governor — Petition  of  New  Jersey — The 
Quakers  punished  as  recusants — Unjust  charges  against 
them — Their  principles  proscribed — Their  persecution  in 
England — Advised  to  settle  in  America — Salem  settled — 
Governments  of  Fenwicke  and  Carteret — The  boundaries  of 
East  and  West  New  Jersey  established — Constitution  pro- 
mulgated— Its  liberal  concessions — Emigration  of  wealthy 
Quakers — Anecdote  of  Charles  II. — Difficulty  with  Andros, 
governor  of  New  York — Burlington  settled — Fear  of  Indian 
hostilities — A  special  treaty  entered  into — Speech  of  an 
Indian  sachem — Progress  of  the  colony — Increase  of  popu- 
lation. 

UPON  the  final  relinquishment  of  New  Nether- 
land  by  the  United  Provinces,  the  Duke  of  York 
procured  a  new  patent  from  the  king,  in  order 
to  quiet  certain  doubts  that  had  arisen  with  re- 
gard to  the  validity  of  his  title,  which  the  pre- 
vious surrender  to  the  Dutch  was  thought  to 
6* 


66  HISTORY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1674. 

have  impaired.  Two  days  after  this  patent  was 
executed,  on  the  1st  of  July,  1674,  the  duke 
commissioned  Edmund  Andros  as  governor  of 
New  York  and  "its  dependencies."  These  in- 
cluded "  all  the  lands  from  the  west  bank  of 
Connecticut  River  to  the  eastern  shore  of 
Delaware  Bay." 

Much  trouble  subsequently  resulted  from  this 
commission,  and  it  has  been  thought  that  the 
duke,  while  conferring  it,  designed  to  revoke  his 
grants  to  the  New  Jersey  proprietaries.  But, 
if  such  was  his  dishonourable  intention,  he 
lacked  resolution  to  fulfil  it ;  for  toward  the  end 
of  the  same  month  he  renewed  the  title  of  Sir 
George  Carteret  to  a  moiety  of  the  province,  of 
which  an  informal  partition  was  at  this  time 
made.  Previously,  on  the  18th  of  March,  1673, 
Berkeley,  now  an  old  man,  disappointed  in  his 
hopes  of  colonial  aggrandizement,  had  sold  out 
his  share  to  John  Fenwicke  and  Edward  Byllinge, 
for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds. 

Both  these  purchasers  were  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  or  Quakers,  a  religious  body 
destined  to  exercise  an  important  influence  over 
the  settlement  and  future  character  of  the 
province. 

Arising  in  England  in  1644,  at  a  time  when 
men's  minds  were  more  than  usually  disposed  to 
active  inquiry  into  the  deeper  questions  of  religion 
as  well  as  of  civil  government,  the  sect  of  people 


1674.]  PERSECUTION   OF   QUAKERS.  67 

called  Quakers  soon  became  distinguished  for 
the  spirit  and  boldness  with  which  they  conduct- 
ed their  investigations.  Nor  was  the  pure  and 
genuine  piety  of  much  the  greater  part  of  the 
new  community  considered  less  remarkable. 
There  were  many  others,  however,  who,  mis- 
taking their  own  wild  impulses  for  the  direct 
promptings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  frequently  com- 
mitted acts  justly  to  be  called  extravagant,  of- 
fensive to  the  proprieties  of  life,  and  not  wholly 
without  injury  to  the  public  peace. 

The  mad  zeal  of  these  enthusiastic  visionaries 
finally  brought  them  in  collision  with  the  state 
authorities,  and  during  the  last  years  of  Crom- 
well's protectorate,  severe  measures  were  taken 
against  them.  Punished  rather  as  religious 
"  recusants,"  than  as  offenders  against  the  pub- 
lic peace,  it  was  not  long  before  they  could  claim 
the  merit  of  suffering  for  conscience'  sake.  But 
persecution  only  increased  their  numbers  and  in- 
flamed their  zeal. 

Soon  after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  this 
persecution  was  renewed,  though  the  members 
of  the  society  were  now  inclined  to  disavow  their 
connections  with  these  fanatics,  to  whom  they 
presently  gave  the  name  of  "Ranters."  Not- 
withstanding the  plain  and  unequivocal  teaching 
of  their  founder,  that  it  was  unlawful  to  use 
carnal  weapons  in  advancing  spiritual  objects, 
they  were  unjustly  charged  with  holding  to  the 


68  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1674. 

doctrine  of  the  Millennarians,  or  Fifth  Monarchy 
Men,  that  even  force  might  be  employed  in 
overturning  those  temporal  powers,  supposed  to 
be  in  the  way  of  the  coming  spiritual  and  divine 
dominion. 

Under  this  impression  Charles  proscribed  their 
principles  as  being  « inconsistent  with  any  kind 
of  government,"  and  a  sharp  law  was  enacted 
against  them  as  "an  abominable  sect." 

The  king  himself  early  changed  the  hasty  and 
mistaken  opinion  he  had  formed  of  the  Quakers, 
for  a  truer  and  more  liberal  view  of  their  doc- 
trines. He  even  entered  into  a  familiar  and  in- 
timate acquaintance  with  some  of  their  promi- 
nent leaders.  But  this  did  not  soften  the  rigour 
of  the  penal  enactments  against  them.  Ha- 
rassed on  all  sides  by  special  statute,  by  the  ge- 
neral laws  against  dissenters,  and  by  the  statute 
against  Roman  Catholics,  they  were  thrown  into 
the  foulest  dungeons,  scourged,  exiled,  sold  into 
colonial  bondage,  stripped  of  their  estates,  and 
even  deprived  of  life  itself  by  the  carelessness 
or  inhumanity  of  their  jailers. 

It  was  when  this  persecution  was  at  its  height 
that  George  Fox,  the  founder  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  returned  to  England  from  a  missionary 
tour  through  the  American  colonies. 

To  testify  to  their  faith,  the  Quakers  shrank 
from  no  suffering,  however  great.  Some,  in  the 
exuberance  of  their  zeal,  were  willing  to  court  it. 


1674.]  QUAKER   COLONIZATION.  69 

But  the  more  quiet  members  of  the  society  were 
of  the  opinion  that  to  avoid  persecution  without 
abandoning  the  tenets  of  their  religion,  was  not 
to  be  judged  as  wrongful.  It  is  probable  that 
on  his  return  to  England,  Fox  represented  to 
them  the  advantages  to  be  enjoyed  under  the 
tolerant  constitution  of  New  Jersey,  where  they 
might  hope  for  peace  and  security  in  the  practice 
of  their  faith.  Preferring  voluntarily  expatria- 
tion to  a  forced  exile,  numbers  immediately  pre- 
pared to  escape  to  the  land  thrown  open  to 
them  by  the  sale  already  noticed. 

Understanding  that  Carteret  was  to  retain  the 
northern  part  of  the  province,  Fenwicke  and 
Byllinge  determined  upon  colonizing  the  south- 
western portion  along  the  Delaware.  Two  years 
passed  away,  however,  before  any  settlement  was 
made.  Meantime,  a  sharp  quarrel  sprung  up 
between  the  new  purchasers  with  regard  to  their 
respective  interests  in  the  territory.  Shunning 
the  scandal  of  a  law-suit,  they  left  the  decision 
of  the  question  to  William  Penn.  Penn's  award 
was  finally  acceded  to,  after  some  hesitation  on 
the  part  of  Fenwicke,  who  received  one-tenth 
of  the  purchase  as  his  share. 

Byllinge,  failing  in  business  soon  after,  was 
obliged  to  transfer  his  interest  for  the  benefit 
of  his  creditors,  to  Penn,  Gawen  Laurie,  and 
Nicholas  Lucas.  With  the  concurrence  of  Fen- 
wicke, these  trustees  presently  divided  the  whole 


70  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1676. 

proprietorship  into  one  hundred  shares,  of  which 
the  ninety  belonging  to  Byllinge  were  offered  for 
sale. 

Matters  having  been  thus  arranged,  in  1675, 
Fenwicke,  with  a  large  company  and  several 
families,  set  sail  from  London,  in  the  ship  Grif- 
fin. A  short  and  pleasant  passage  brought  the 
adventurers  into  Delaware  Bay,  on  the  eastern 
shore  of  which,  at  its  head,  they  landed  near  the 
site  of  one  of  the  old  Swedish  forts.  From  the 
fair  and  peaceful  aspect  of  the  place,  they  gave 
the  name  of.  Salem  to  their  new  settlement. 
Having  purchased  lands  from  the  natives,  Fen- 
wicke  proceeded  to  portion  them  out  among  the 
several  emigrants,  and  took  upon  himself  the 
authority  of  the  province. 

Early  in  the  same  year,  Philip  Carteret  quiet- 
ly resumed  the  government  of  his  kinsman's 
share  of  the  province.  By  postponing  the  pay- 
ment of  the  quit-rents,  he  induced  the  colonists 
to  accept  without  murmuring,  and  even  with  an 
appearance  of  satisfaction,  the  new  and  less 
popular  concessions  sent  out  by  the  proprietary. 

In  November,  the  second  regular  assembly 
met.  Having  adopted  several  measures  for  the 
well-being  and  orderly  management  of  the  colo- 
ny, they  concluded  their  session  with  an  act  of 
amnesty  and  free  pardon  to  all  persons  concern- 
ed in  the  late  disturbances. 

Early  in  1676,  the  assembly  again  convened, 


1676.]  DIVISION    OF   THE    STATE.  71 

but  nothing  of  historical  importance  was  passed. 
"With  the  exception  of  some  slight  symptoms  of 
dissatisfaction  with  regard  to  the  quit-rents,  af- 
fairs went  on  smoothly,  and  there  was  a  prospect 
of  long-continued  quiet. 

At  length,  on  the  first  of  July,  a  formal  divi- 
sion of  New  Jersey  was  agreed  to  by  Carteret. 
From  the  ocean,  at  Little  Egg  Harbour,  a  line 
was  drawn  to  a  point  on  the  Delaware  River,  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  forty-one  degrees  north 
latitude ;  the  country  north  and  east  of  which 
remained  in  the  possession  of  Carteret,  with  the 
title  of  East  New  Jersey,  while  the  other  section 
was  assigned  in  severalty  to  the  Quaker  proprie- 
taries, under  the  title  of  West  New  Jersey. 

Meanwhile,  these  proprietaries  had  prepared 
in  England,  a  code  of  fundamental  laws  for  the 
province.  "We  lay,"  wrote  Penn  and  his  col- 
leagues to  the  colonists,  "  we  lay  a  foundation 
for  after  ages  to  understand  their  liberty  as 
Christians  and  as  men,  that  they  may  not  be 
brought  into  bondage  but  by  their  own  consent; 
for  we  put  the" power  in  the  people." 

The  Quaker  "concessions  and  agreements" 
were  first  made  public  on  the  3d  of  March,  1676. 
Entire  freedom  of  conscience,  universal  suffrage, 
and  voting  by  ballot  were  fully  established. 
None  could  be  imprisoned  for  debt.  Orphans 
were  to  be  educated  at  the  public  expense.  "All 
and  every  person  in  the  province"  was,  "by 


72  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1676. 

the  help  of  the  Lord  and  these  fundamentals, 
to  be  free  from  oppression  and  slavery."  Hu- 
mane and  just  regulations  were  framed  to  pro- 
tect the  native  inhabitants  against  encroach- 
men^s.  No  attorney  or  counsellor  was  required 
in  the  management  of  courts.  For  the  govern- 
ment of  the  province,  the  people  were  to  elect 
an  assembly,  each  member  of  which  was  to  be 
paid  one  shilling  a  day,  "that  he  might  be 
known  as  a  servant  of  the  people."  The  chief 
executive  power  was  confided  to  ten  commission- 
ers, to  be  chosen  by  the  assembly.  That  body 
was  also  to  appoint  the  judges,  who  retained 
their  offices  but  two  years,  sitting  in  court  only 
as  assistants  to  the  jury,  in  which,  alone,  resided 
the  authority  to  make  decisions,  whether  as  to 
the  law  or  the  fact. 

Such  are  the  main  features  of  the  first  poli- 
tical constitution  drawn  up  by  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  While  many  may  point  out 
defects,  the  instrument,  viewed  as  a  whole,  is 
yet  worthy  of  hearty  •  approval  and  commenda- 
tion. Far  in  advance  of  any  system  of  govern- 
ment then  in  existence,  it  contrasted  favourably 
with  that  even  of  the  eastern  province,  which 
was  avowedly  popular  and  concessive.  To  its 
framers  may  justly  be  awarded  no  slight  partici- 
pation in  the  honour  of  having  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  civil  and  religious  freedom  in  the  new 
world. 


1677.]  DIFFICULTY   WITH   ANDROS.  73 

Pursuant  to  the  plan  of  the  concessions, 
Thomas  Olive  and  others  were  presently  appoint- 
ed as  commissioners,  to  superintend  the  colony, 
to  which  two  companies  of  emigrants,  princi- 
pally wealthy  Friends  from  Yorkshire  and  Lon- 
don, were  already  prepared  to  remove. 

During  the  summer  of  1677,  these  commis- 
sioners, accompanied  by  a  large  body  of  settlers, 
embarked  on  board  the  ship  Kent,  at  London. 
While  the  vessel  was  anchored  in  the  Thames, 
preparatory  to  sailing,  the  king  chanced  to  come 
by  in  his  pleasure-barge.  Remarking  the  plain 
garb  of  the  men  of  peace,  Charles  came  along- 
side, and,  having  learned  that  they  were  all 
Quakers,  destined  for  the  colony  of  New  Jersey, 
he  blessed  them,  and  gave  them  his  good  wishes. 

After  a  long  and  tiresome  passage,  the  Kent 
was  brought  to  anchor  within  Sandy  Hook,  from 
which  place  the  commissioners  proceeded  on  a 
visit  to  the  governor  of  New  York.  Received 
with  all  courtesy  by  Andros,  they  informed  him 
of  their  design.  Claiming  jurisdiction  over 
New  Jersey,  Andros  demanded  whether  they 
had  a  warrant  from  the  Duke  of  York.  On 
their  answering  in  the  negative,  he  refused  to 
recognise  their  authority.  They  offered  to  re- 
monstrate. Pointing  significantly  to  his  sword, 
the  arbitrary  governor  intimated  the  extent  to 
which  he  would  oppose  them.  The  peace-loving 
commissioners  were  silenced.  Finally,  however, 

7 


74  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1677. 

Andros  gave  them  a  warrant  from  himself,  until 
the  matter  could  be  referred  for  decision  to 
England. 

Meanwhile,  the  main  body  of  the  colonists  had 
entered  the  Delaware.  Procuring  interpreters 
from  among  the  Swedish  settlers  planted  near 
the  present  site  of  Swedesborough,  they  pur- 
chased from  the  Indians  three  large  and  con- 
tiguous tracts  of  land,  extending  from  Old 
Man's  Creek  to  the  falls  at  Trenton. 

Two  distinct  settlements  were  at  first  proposed, 
but  it  was  finally  determined  to  join  together 
and  form  one  town.  Accordingly,  on  the  tract 
between  Rancocas  Creek  and  the  falls,  a  town 
was  presently  laid  out,  to  which  the  name  of 
New  Beverly  was  first  applied,  then  Bridlington, 
and  afterward  Burlington,  which  it  still  retains. 
A  main  street  having  been  cleared,  along  this 
the  settlers  began  to  erect  their  dwellings,  the 
Yorkshire  proprietors  on  the  eastern  side,  and 
those  from  London  on  the  west. 

Winter  was  wellnigh  over  before  these  houses 
could  be  made  habitable.  In  the  mean  time  the 
settlers  sheltered  themselves  in  rude  huts,  built 
in  imitation  of  the  wigwams  of  the  natives.  For 
a  meeting-house,  a  tent  of  sail-cloth  was  early 
set  up.  Under  this  the  Quakers  began  to  hold 
religious  union. 

The  simple-hearted  savages  in  the  neighbour- 
hood were  unusually  kind  to  the  new  comers, 


1677.]         SPEECH   OF   AN   INDIAN    SACHEM.         75 

supplying  them  plentifully  with  corn  and  venison. 
Hostilities  were  subsequently  threatened  by  the 
Indians,  on  the  ground  that  the  strangers  had 
sold  them  the  small-pox  along  with  certain  match- 
coats.  Apprehending  trouble,  the  colonists 
sought  the  assurance  of  a  special  treaty,  and  a 
peace-council  was  shortly  held  with  the  Indian 
kings,  under  the  shades  of  the  Burlington  forests. 
The  English  having  made  known  their  fears,  an 
old  sachem  rose,  and,  speaking  for  his  brethren, 
said : — 

"  Some  of  our  young  men  may  utter  such 
words  as  neither  you  nor  we  approve.  We 
cannot  help  that.  You  cannot  help  it.  We  are 
your  brothers.  We  have  no  mind  to  make  war. 
When  we  have  war  we  are  but  skin  and  bone. 
The  meat  that  we  eat  doth  do  us  no  good.  The 
kind  sun  cannot  shine  upon  us,  for  we  then  hide 
us  in  holes  and  corners. 

''When  we  intend  to  make  war  upon  you,  we 
will  let  you  know  of  it,  and  the  reason ;  that 
whatever  wrong  you  have  done  us  may  be  re- 
paired. If  you  give  us  no  satisfaction,  then  we 
will  make  war.  You,  likewise,  will  act  in  this 
way  with  us.  Otherwise,  there  should  be  no 
war. 

"  You  are  our  brothers,  and  we  wish  to  live 
like  brothers  with  you.  We  will  leave  a  broad 
path  for  you  and  us  to  walk  in.  If  an  Indian 
is  asleep  in  this  path,  the  Englishman  shall  pass 


76  HISTORY   OF    NEW   JERSEY.  [1678. 

by  and  do  him  no  harm.  If  an  Englishman  falls 
asleep  in  this  path,  the  Indian  shall  pass  him  by, 
and  say,  <  He  is  an  Englishman ;  he  is  asleep  ; 
let  him  alone  ;  he  loves  sleep.'  The  path  shall 
be  plain  ;  there  shall  not  be  in  this  path  a  stump 
to  hurt  the  feet. 

"  As  to  the  small-pox,  it  came  in  the  time  of 
my  grandfather ;  it  came  in  the  time  of  my 
father  ;  and  now  in  my  time  it  is  come."  Then 
stretching  his  hands  toward  heaven,  he  continued, 
"  I  do  believe  that  it  is  the  Man  above  that  hath 
sent  it  to  us." 

A  good  understanding  having  been  established 
with  the  Indians,  by  this  and  subsequent  coun- 
cils, the  colony  soon  assumed  a  thriving  appear- 
ance. Constant  accessions  were  made  to  the 
number  of  its  inhabitants.  In  November,  1677, 
the  ship  Willing  Mind,  from  London,  landed 
about  seventy  emigrants,  some  of  whom  settled 
at  Salem,  others  at  Burlington.  She  was  soon 
after  followed  by  the  fly-boat  Martha,  with  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  passengers  from  Yorkshire. 
On  the  10th  of  December,  of  the  succeeding 
year,  came  the  Shields,  from  Hull.  Gliding  up 
the  Delaware,  with  a  fair  and  fresh  breeze,  her 
passengers  admired  the  surrounding  country, 
and  especially  pointed  out,  as  a  "  fine  spot  for  a 
town,"  the  lands  upon  which  Philadelphia  ha,s 
since  arisen.  Passing  by  this,  the  gale  swept 
them  on  to  Burlington,  so  far  as  which  no  vessel 


1678.]  PROCEEDINGS    OF   ANDROS.  77 

had  hitherto  sailed.  Mooring  that  night  to  a 
tree  in  front  of  the  town,  her  astonished  pas- 
sengers, on  the  following  morning,  walked 
ashore,  with  the  hard  frozen  rivw  beneath  their 
feet. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Dispute  between  New  York  and  East  New  Jersey — Arbitrary 
conduct  of  Andros — Claims  jurisdiction  over  New  Jersey — 
Carteret  refuses  to  resign  his  government — His  arrest — 
Tried  at  New  York  and  acquitted — Andros  attempts  to  con- 
trol the  assembly  of  East  New  Jersey — Their  spirited  re- 
sponse— Heavy  tax  on  imports — Remonstrance  of  the  New 
Jersey  proprietaries — Their  complaints  referred  to  commis- 
sioners— The  tax  pronounced  illegal — The  Duke  of  York 
relinquishes  his  claim  to  govern  New  Jersey — Byllinge  go- 
vernor of  West  New  Jersey — Appoints  Jennings  deputy- 
governor — First  legislative  assembly  convenes — Adoption  of  a 
constitution — Burlington  erected  the  capital  of  the  province 
• — The  assembly  maintains  its  prerogative — Amendment 
of  the  constitution — Jennings  elected  governor — Is  sent  to 
England — Olive  governor — Byllinge  appoints  John  Skene 
deputy-governor — Death  of  Byllinge — Sale  of  his  interest 
in  New  Jersey — Dr.  Coxe  claims  entire  executive  control — 
A  change  foreshadowed. 

WHILE  the  Quaker  colony  was  settled  under 
auspices  which  promised  a  fair  prospect  of  rapid 
and  substantial  growth,  difficulties  were  springing 
up  in  East  New  Jersey,  that  in  the  end,  for  a 
while,  disturbed  the  tranquillity  of  the  whole 
province.  _# 


78  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1680. 

To  foster  a  spirit  of  commercial  enterprise 
among  his  people,  Governor  Carteret  prepared 
to  open  a  direct  trade  with  England,  unencum- 
bered by  custom.  Opposing  what  he  styled  an 
infringement  of  his  master's  rights,  Andros, 
then  governor  of  New  York,  ordered  that  no 
ship  should  land  on  the  Jersey  shore,  until  it 
had  first  paid  an  impost  duty  at  Manhattan. 
On  the  death  of  Sir  George  Carteret,  in  1679, 
he  took  a  bolder  step,  and  claimed  jurisdiction 
over  the  province.  Recurring  to  the  terms  of 
his  original  commission,  he  called  upon  Carte- 
ret  to  lay  down  his  authority.  Unexpected  as 
this  demand  was,  the  governor  maintained  a 
fearless  and  unshaken  front.  "It  was  by  his 
majesty's  command,"  he  replied,  "that  this  go- 
vernment was  established.  Without  that  com- 
mand, it  shall  never  be  resigned  but  with  our 
lives  and  fortunes." 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1680,  Andros,  attended 
by  his  councillors,  and  a  few  leading  merchants 
of  New  York,  presented  himself  at  Elizabeth- 
town.  Courteously  received  by  Carteret,  he  at 
once  unfolded  to  him  the  object  of  his  visit,  and 
endeavoured  to  induce  him  to  resign  his  govern- 
ment. Finding  all  his  arguments  vain,  he  some- 
what abruptly  withdrew,  warning  the  inhabitants 
that  if  they  did  not  comply  with  his  demand, 
the  peril  would  rest  upon  them  alone. 

Regardless  of  the  hospitable  welcome  he  had 


1680.]  TRIAL   OF   CARTEJRET.  79 

received,  Andros,  on  the  30th  of  April,  de- 
spatched a  file  of  soldiers  to  Elizabethtown,  to 
capture  Carteret.  Entering  the  governor's 
mansion  at  a  late  hour  of  the  night,  they  drag- 
ged him  rudely  from  his  bed,  and  carried  him, 
bruised  and  maltreated,  to  New  York,  where  he 
was  kept  in  close  confinement  until  the  27th  of 
the  following  month. 

On  that  day  Andros  summoned  a  special 
court,  himself  being  chief  justice.  When  placed 
on  trial,  Carteret  fearlessly  avowed  that  he  had 
refused  to  surrender  his  authority.  He  then 
demanded  his  release  on  parole,  and  protested 
bitterly  against  being  tried  by  a  court,  of  which 
his  accuser  was  also  judge.  When  the  jury  re- 
turned with  a  verdict  of  "Not  guilty,"  Andros, 
with  violence  of  language,  charged  them  anew, 
and  ordered  them  to  reconsider  their  verdict. 
Twice  was  this  scene  renewed ;  but  the  jury, 
faithful  to  their  duty  and  their  honour,  persisted 
in  finding  an  acquittal.  Carteret,  however,  was 
detained  in  custody  until  the  controversy  could 
be  decided  in  England. 

At  once  taking  advantage  of  this  virtual  de- 
position, Andros  again  entered  East  New  Jersey 
and  appeared  before  its  assembly.  His  power 
was  such  as  to  awe  its  members ;  but  they 
evinced  no  disposition  to  yield  to  his  arbitrary 
will.  He  endeavoured  to  intimidate  them  by 
exhibiting  the  king's  patent  to  the  Duke  of 


80  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1680. 

York.  "  We  are  the  representatives  of  the  free- 
holders of  this  province,"  was  their  reply.  "  His 
majesty's  patent,  though  under  the  great  seal 
of  England,  we  dare  not  grant  to  be  our  rule  or 
joint  safety;  for  the  great  charter  of  England 
is  the  only  rule,  privilege,  and  joint  safety  of 
every  free-born  Englishman."  Their  answer 
breathed  the  firmness  of  freemen,  and  the  inde- 
pendence of  New  Jersey  remained  intact. 

Andros  did  not  confine  his  usurpations  to  the 
eastern  province.  Denying  the  West  Jersey 
proprietors  any  right  of  jurisdiction,  as  early  as 
1676,  he  had  imprisoned  Fenwicke,  the  founder 
of  Salem,  for  claiming  the  government  of  his 
share  of  the  province ;  and  had  liberated  him 
only  upon  his  promise  not  to  assume  any  autho- 
rity on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Delaware.  This 
outrage  was  repeated  in  1678,  it  being  alleged 
that  Fenwicke  had  violated  his  word. 

Other  difficulties  soon  sprung  from  the  same 
source.  Pretending  that  the  duke's  authority 
extended  over  the  whole  of  Delaware  Bay,  An- 
dros levied  a  tax  of  five  per  cent,  on  all  English 
goods  imported  into  the  colony.  The  payment 
of  these  customs  was  rigidly  enforced.  No  ex- 
emption was  permitted  "  to  the  smallest  vessel, 
boat,  or  person." 

Provoked  beyond  endurance,  the  proprietors 
earnestly  and  often  importuned  the  Duke  of 
York  for  redress.  At  length,  rather  wearied 


1680.]     REMONSTRANCE    OF    PROPRIETARIES.      81 

by  the  reiteration  of  these  complaints  than 
moved  by  their  justice,  he  consented  to  refer 
the  question  to  disinterested  commissioners,  who 
finally  submitted  it  to  the  decision  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam Jones,  a  leading  lawyer  of  that  day. 

On  behalf  of  the  colonists,  the  Quaker  pro- 
prietaries prepared  an  elaborate  argument.  It 
was  worthy  the  founders  of  a  free  state.  After 
deducing  their  title,  they  say  : — 

"  An  express  grant  of  the  powers  of  govern- 
ment, and  that  only,  induced  us  to  buy  the 
moiety  of  New  Jersey ;  for  the  government  of 
any  place  is  more  inviting  than  the  soil ;  and 
what  is  good  land  without  good  laws  ?  If  we 
could  not  assure  people  of  an  easy,  free,  and  safe 
government,  liberty  of  conscience,  and  an  invio- 
lable possession  of  their  civil  rights  and  free- 
doms, a  mere  wilderness  would  be  no  encourage- 
ment ;  for  it  were  madness  to  leave  a  free  and  im- 
proved country  to  plant  in  a  wilderness,  and  give 
another  person  an  absolute  title  to  tax  us  all." 
Stating  the  tax  imposed  by  Andros,  they  con- 
tinue : — 

"  For  this  we  make  our  application  to  have 
speedy  redress,  not  as  a  burden  only,  but  as  a 
wrong.  Tell  us  by  what  right  are  we  thus  used  ? 
The  King  of  England  cannot  justly  take  his  sub- 
jects' goods  without  their  consent.  This  needs 
no  more  to  be  proved  than  a  principle ;  it  is  a 


82  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1680. 

home-born  right,  declared  to  be  law  by  divers 
statutes. 

"  To  give  up  the  right  of  making  laws,  is  to 
change  the  government,  and  resign  ourselves  to 
the  will  of  another.  The  land  belongs  to  the 
natives ;  of  the  duke  we  buy  nothing  but  the 
right  of  an  undisturbed  colonizing,  with  an  ex- 
pectation of  some  increase  of  the  freedoms  en- 
joyed in  our  own  country.  But  what  gain  has 
it  been  to  us,  that  now  pay  an  arbitrary  custom, 
neither  known  to  England  nor  to  New  York, 
and  those  other  plantations?  We  have  not 
lost  any  part  of  our  liberty  by  leaving  our 
country. 

"  The  tax  is  a  very  surprise  to  the  planter's. 
It  is  paying  for  the  same  thing  twice  over. 
Custom  laid  upon  planting  is  unprecedented. 
Besides,  there  is  no  end  of  this  power ;  for, 
since  by  this  precedent  we  are  assessed  without 
law,  and  excluded  from  our  English  rights  of 
common  assent  to  taxes,  what  security  have  we 
for  any  thing  we  possess  ?  We  can  call  nothing 
our  own,  but  are  tenants-at-will,  not  for  the  soil 
only,  but  for  our  personal  estates.  This  sort  of 
conduct  has  destroyed  governments,  but  never 
raised  one  to  true  greatness. 

"  Lastly,  to  exact  such  an  unterminated  tax 
from  English  planters,  and  to  continue  it  after 
so  many  repeated  complaints,  will  be  the  greatest 
evidence  of  a  design  to  introduce,  if  the  crown 


1681.]  IMPORT-TAX   ILLEGAL.  83 

should  ever  devolve  upon  the  duke,  an  unlimited 
government  in  Old  England." 

Such,  briefly,  but  in  their  own  language,  was 
the  argument  of  the  proprietors.  It  was  suc- 
cessful. Sir  William  Jones  decided  that  the 
tax  was  illegal.  His  decision  was  sustained. 
The  Duke  of  York  acquiesced  in  it,  and,  in 
1681,  made  a  new  and  separate  grant  of  West 
New  Jersey  to  the  trustees,  relinquishing  all 
claim  to  the  territory  and  the  government. 

With  this  success  the  peace  of  West  New 
Jersey  seemed  to  be  confirmed.  Numerous  set- 
tlers, mostly  Quakers,  continued  to  flock  into 
the  province.  All  went  on  smoothly. 

Finding  it  inconvenient  to  leave  England, 
Byllinge,  who  had  been  elected  governor  by  the 
proprietaries,  appointed  Samuel  Jennings,  a  man 
of  some  distinction  already  in  the  province,  to 
be  his  deputy.  On  the  21st  of  November,  1681, 
Jennings  convened  the  first  legislative  assembly. 
Having  adopted  a  code  of  "  Fundamental  Con- 
stitutions," strictly  in  accordance  with  the  libe- 
ral spirit  of  "the  concessions,"  the  assembly 
proceeded  to  enact  six  and  thirty  laws  for  the 
well-ordering  of  the  province.  For  defraying 
the  expenses  of  government,  they  ordered  a  levy 
of  two  hundred  pounds,  to  be  paid  in  corn,  or 
skins,  or  money.  A  heavy  penalty  was  imposed 
upon  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits  to  the  Indians. 
In  all  criminal  cases — murder,  treason,  and 


84  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1682. 

theft  excepted — it  was  provided  that  the  person 
aggrieved  might  pardon  the  offender  either  be- 
fore or  after  condemnation. 

During  the  following  session,  held  in  May, 
1682,  Burlington  was  erected  into  the  capital  of 
the  province.  That  town  and  Salem  were  es- 
tablished as  ports.  To  provide  for  that  class  of 
bound-servants  who,  to  procure  the  means  of 
coming  to  the  country,  had  indentured  them- 
selves to  the  more  opulent  colonists,  it  was  en- 
acted that  every  such  person  might  claim  from 
his  master,  at  the  expiration  of  his  indenture,  & 
set  of  agricultural  implements,  necessary  articles 
of  apparel,  and  ten  bushels  of  corn. 

When  the  assembly  again  met,  in  1683,  a 
question  of  considerable  importance  was  brought 
under  deliberation.  Byllinge,  as  proprietary, 
claimed,  and  had  already  exercised,  the  power 
of  nominating  the  deputy-governor.  From  the 
first,  his  right  to  do  so  had  been  questioned,  and 
the  subject  had  excited  no  little  discussion.  As 
an  intimation  of  his  design  to  maintain  this 
right,  Byllinge  appears  to  have  resolved  upon 
the  removal  of  Jennings.  The  dissatisfaction 
of  the  colonists  with  a  claim  to  any  authority 
not  springing  from  themselves,  now  came  rapidly 
to  a  crisis.  Besides,  they  were  pleased  with 
Jennings,  and  wished  to  retain  him.  Following 
the  advice  of  Penn,  the  assembly  amended  the 


1G87.]  CLAIMS    OF   COXE.  85 

constitution  according  to  the  prescribed  method, 
and  then  elected  Jennings  as  governor. 

At  a  subsequent  session,  Jennings  was  deputed 
to  proceed,  with  a  coadjutor,  to  England,  to  ne- 
gotiate upon  this  subject  with  Byllinge.  Before 
departing  he  nominated  Thomas  Olive  as  his 
deputy.  Presently  elected  governor,  Olive  re- 
mained in  that  office  until  September,  1685. 
The  mission  of  Jennings  was  only  in  part  suc- 
cessful. A  new  and  liberal  charter  was  indeed 
obtained,  but  Byllinge  would  not  renounce  his 
claim.  He  soon  afterward  commissioned  John 
Skene  as  his  deputy.  Though  the  assembly 
agreed  to  recognise  this  commission,  it  was  with 
the  plain  reservation  that  they  thereby  lost  none 
of  "their  just  rights  and  privileges." 

Byllinge  dying  in  1687,  Dr.  Daniel  Coxe, 
of  London,  already  largely  concerned  in  West 
Jersey,  purchased  the  interest  of  his  heirs  in  the 
soil  and  government.  Informing  the  provincial 
council  of  proprietors  of  what  he  had  done,  Coxe 
presently  laid  claim  to  the  entire  executive  con- 
trol of  the  colony.  Liberally  confirming  the 
"concessions"  as  a  favour,  he  yet  left  nothing  to 
the  people  as  rights.  Probably  his  energetic  re- 
vival of  the  claim  of  Byllinge  would  have  created 
more  excitement  than  it  did,  had  not  a  new  and 
unexpected  interference  from  another  quarter  sus- 
pended, for  a  time,  the  exercise  of  the  powers  of 
government,  either  by  Coxe  or  by  the  people. 


86  HISTORY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1682. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Quit-rent  disputes — East  New  Jersey  purchased  by  Penn  and 
others — Extension  of  the  partnership — Robert  Barclay  made 
governor — Appoints  Thomas  Rudyard  his  deputy — Session 
of  the  assembly — The  province  divided  into  counties — Ad- 
ministration of  Rudyard — Gawen  Laurie  governor — Mixed 
character  of  population  in  New  Jersey — Scottish  emigrants 
— Scot  of  Pitlochie's  book — Lord  Campbell  appointed  deputy 
governor  of  East  New  Jersey — James  II.  violates  his  obli- 
gations— Difficulties  with  New  York — New  Jersey  threaten- 
ed— Remonstrance  of  the  proprietaries — Surrender  of  East 
and  West  New  Jersey  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  crown — 
Andros  commissioned  governor — Flight  of  James  II. — Re- 
sumption of  the  proprietary  governments — Hamilton  go- 
vernor— Land  titles — Hamilton  superseded  by  Basse — Inter- 
provincial  disputes — Hamilton  re-appointed  governor — New 
Jersey  becomes  a  royal  province. 

IN  consequence  of  the  decision  of  Sir  William 
Jones,  East  New  Jersey  again  reverted  to  the 
authority  of  Governor  Carteret.  But  the  quit- 
rent  disputes  being  revived,  the  possession  of  the 
province  seemed  likely  to  prove  more  trouble- 
some than  lucrative.  Tired  of  their  responsi- 
bility, the  trustees  of  Sir  George  presently  offer- 
ed his  interest  in  the  province  for  sale. 

Encouraged  by  the  success  of  their  plantations 
on  the  Delaware,  the  Quakers  of  England  re- 
solved to  secure  the  opportunity  thus  offered  of 
widening  the  field  of  their  enterprise.  Accord- 


1682.]        PUKCHASED  BY  PENN.         87 

ingly,  in  the  month  of  February,  1682,  William 
Penn,  and  eleven  associates  of  the  Quaker  per- 
suasion, became  the  purchasers  of  East  New 
Jersey,  for  the  sum  of  three  thousand  four  hun- 
dred pounds. 

Having  prepared,  for  the  encouragement  of 
settlers,  a  brief  eulogistic  account  of  the  politi- 
cal and  natural  advantages  of  the  province,  each 
of  the  twelve  new  proprietors  chose  a  partner. 
These  were  principally  Scotchmen,  and  many 
were  not  Quakers.  Among  them  were  the  Earl 
of  Perth  and  Lord  Drummond,  members  of  the 
Scottish  privy  council.  As  a  majority  of  the 
five  thousand  inhabitants  already  in  the  colony 
belonged  to  other  religious  sects,  this  choice  of 
partners  was  probably  made  to  allay  the  jealousy 
with  which  it  was  reasonably  to  be  expected 
that  a  government  composed  entirely  of  Quakers 
would  be  regarded.  On  the  13th  of  March, 
1683,  the  twenty-four  obtained  from  the  Duke 
of  York  a  new,  special,  and  final  patent. 

Previously,  the  amiable  and  ingenious  Robert 
Barclay,  celebrated  by  his  appellation  of  "the 
Apologist,"  himself  one  of  the  proprietors,  had 
been  appointed  governor  for  life.  Permitted  to 
exercise  his  authority  by  deputy,  he  never  visited 
the  province.  The  gentleman  he  chose  as  his 
temporary  representative,  was  Thomas  Rudyard, 
an  attorney  of  some  distinction  in  London.  In 
November  1682,  Rudyard  arrived  in  the  pro- 


88  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1684. 

vince,  which  he  found  tenanted  by  "  a  sober, 
professing  people,  wise  in  their  generation,  and 
courteous  in  their  behaviour." 

By  the  assemby,  which  soon  after  met,  a  num- 
ber of  laws  were  enacted,  slightly  modifying  the 
character,  jurisdiction,  and  proceedings  of  the 
courts,  and  softening,  in  some  degree,  the  se- 
verity of  the  earlier  criminal  and  penal  codes. 
The  concessions  of  the  late  proprietaries  were 
renewed,  and  the  province  divided  into  four 
counties,  Bergen,  Essex,  Middlesex,  and  Mon- 
mouth. 

Rudyard's  administration  seems  to  have  been 
productive  of  considerable  harmony  among  the 
divided  and  clashing  interests  that  had  hitherto 
distracted  the  province.  But  it  was  of  brief 
duration.  Having  quarrelled  with  Groome,  the 
surveyor-general,  Rudyard  suspended  him  from 
office.  The  English  proprietors,  however,  sided 
with  Groome  ;  and,  though  fully  aware  of  the 
good  Rudyard  had  already  effected,  they  deter- 
mined upon  his  removal. 

His  successor  was  Gawen  Laurie,  a  Scotch- 
man by  birth,  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  and  a  merchant  of  London.  Arriving 
in  the  province  early  in  1684,  Laurie  immediate- 
ly bestirred  himself  to  build  up  the  new  town 
of  Perth  Amboy,  so  named  in  honour  of  the 
Earl  of  Perth.  A  favourite  project  of  the  pro- 
prietaries, this  town  had  been  laid  out  the 


1684.]  MIXED    POPULATION.  89 

previous  year,  and  already  contained  a  few 
houses.  Here  it  was  expected  to  raise  up  a 
great  commercial  emporium,  to  rival  New  York ; 
but  the  destiny  prefigured  for  the  young  city  has 
never  been  realized. 

New  Jersey  still  bears  evidence  to  the  mixed 
character  of  her  early  population.  To  the 
Dutch  colonists,  New  England  Puritans,  and 
English  Quakers  already  in  the  province,  a  large 
accession  of  Scottish  Presbyterians  was  now  to 
be  made. 

The  efforts  of  Charles  II.  to  bring  back  Scot- 
land to  Episcopacy,  had  met  with  no  general  op- 
position from  the  Presbyterians.  Under  the 
name  of  Cameronians  and  Covenanters,  however, 
a  few  of  their  number  still  persisted  in  the  de- 
termination to  practise  their  faith.  Rigorously 
persecuted,  in  consequence,  and  hunted  like  wild 
beasts,  the  despairing  Covenanters  occasionally 
rose  against  their  oppressors.  But  every  at- 
tempt to  shake  off  the  yoke  of  intolerance  only 
recoiled  upon  themselves  with  redoubled  violence. 

In  1683,  shortly  after  the  final  grant  of  East 
New  Jersey  to  the  twenty-four  proprietaries,  a 
fresh  proclamation  from  the  English  government 
proscribed  all  who  had  ever  communed  with  the 
rebellious  covenanters.  The  lives  of  twenty 
thousand  persons  were  thus  put  at  the  mercy  of 
informers.  The  insurrection  of  Monmouth  fol- 
lowed. A  fearful  and  bloody  revenge  was  in- 

8* 


90  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1685. 

flicted  upon  the  maddened  insurgents.  The 
whole  Calvinistic  population  of  Scotland  was 
beset  by  proscriptions  or  penalties. 

Writing  at  this  time  to  the  East  Jersey  pro- 
prietaries in  England,  Laurie  urged  them  to 
hasten  emigration.  "  Here  wants  nothing  but 
people,"  he  said.  "  Every  proprietor's  sending 
over  ten  people  will  bring  all  the  division  that 
hath  been  here  to  an  end."  Governor  Barclay 
and  others  among  the  proprietaries  were  natives 
of  Scotland.  From  that  country  efforts  were 
immediately  made  to  draw  emigrants  to  the  pro- 
vince. The  persecution  the  people  was  there 
suffering,  it  was  thought  would  induce  them  to 
accept  readily  an  asylum  beyond  the  Atlantic. 
Partial  success  only  followed  these  efforts. 
With  all  they  were  forced  to  undergo,  the  Scots 
were  not  easily  persuaded  to  exile  themselves 
from  their  native  land. 

The  accession  of  the  Duke  of  York,  as  James 
II.,  to  the  English  throne,  in  1685,  instead 
of  bringing  relief  to  the  persecuted  Cove- 
nanters, did  but  aggravate  their  sufferings. 
Crowded  into  prisons,  numbers  of  them  perished 
from  thirst  and  suffocation.  Hundreds  of  un- 
fortunate fugitives,  after  being  tried  by  a  jury 
of  soldiers,  were  put  to  death  in  a  body  on  the 
public  ways.  Women  were  bound  to  stakes  set 
up  in  the  sea  at  low  water-mark,  and  there  left 
to  be  drowned  by  the  swelling  waters. 


1685.J  SCOTTISH   IMMIGRANTS.  91 

Wearied  with  persecution,  the  miserable  Co- 
venanters were  ready  to  seek  peace  by  expatria- 
tion. It  was  at  this  moment  that  George  Scot, 
of  Pitlochie,  at  the  instance  of  the  proprie- 
taries, addressed  to  his  countrymen  a  book 
entitled  "  The  Model  of  the  Government  of  the 
Province  of  East  New  Jersey  in  America,"  in 
which  certain  objections  to  emigration  were  re- 
futed, and  the  advantages  offered  by  the  province 
set  forth  in  full.  "  It  is  judged  the  interest  of 
the  English  government,"  he  wrote,  "altogether 
to  suppress  the  Presbyterian  principles ;  the 
whole  force  of  the  law  of  this  kingdom  is  levelled 
at  the  effectual  bearing  them  down.  The  rigor- 
ous putting  these  laws  in  execution  hath,  in  a 
great  part,  ruined  many  of  those  who,  notwith- 
standing thereof,  find  themselves  in  conscience 
obliged  to  retain  these  principles.  A  retreat 
where,  by  law,  a  toleration  is  allowed,  doth  at 
present  offer  itself  in  America,  and  is  nowhere 
else  to  be  found  in  his  majesty's  dominions." 
Doing  what  he  had  so  well  advised  others, 
the  author  himself,  in  August,  1685,  embarked 
with  his  family  and  two  hundred  Scottish  emi- 
grants, for  the  shores  of  East  New  Jersey. 

The  result  of  his  little  publication  was  most 
important  and  highly  beneficial  to  the  colony. 
Companies  of  Scotch  Presbyterians  speedily 
flocked  into  the  province,  in  such  numbers  that, 


92  HISTORY    OF   NEAV   JERSEY.  [1686. 

even  at  the  present  day%  the  character  they  then 
gave  it  is  not  entirely  destroyed. 

Still  further  to  influence  the  tide  of  Scottish 
emigration,  the  twenty-four  proprietors  presently 
displaced  Laurie,  and  conferred  the  oflice  of 
deputy-governor  on  Lord  Neill  Campbell.  Com- 
promised by  some  insurrectionary  movements  in 
Scotland,  Campbell  willingly  accepted,  and,  in 
1686,  came  out  to  the  province.  His  stay,  how- 
ever, was  brief.  In  March  of  the  following 
year,  he  sailed  again  for  England,  leaving  An- 
drew Hamilton  as  his  substitute. 

Every  thing  promised  well  for  the  future  of 
the  province.  But  James,  the  king  of  Great 
Britain,  was  little  disposed  to  fulfil  the  engage- 
ments he  had  entered  into  while  Duke  of  York. 
Influenced  by  Dongan,  the  successor  of  Andros, 
he  was  preparing  to  wrest  from  the  Jersey  pro- 
prietaries the  rights,  powers,  and  privileges  he 
had  but  lately,  for  the  third  time,  confirmed  to 
them.  By  extending  his  royal  authority  over 
New  Jersey,  his  revenues  would  be  largely  aug- 
mented, and  his  cupidity  speedily  devised  a 
scheme  for  effecting  that  object. 

To  prevent  violations  of  the  navigation  laws, 
William  Dyer  had  been  appointed  by  Laurie 
collector  of  the  customs  in  New  Jersey.  His 
appointment  resulted  in  evil.  Scarcely  was  his 
authority  established,  when  the  inhabitants  found 
themselves  obliged  to  enter  their  vessels  and  pay 


1688.]   SURRENDER  OP  PROPRIETARY  RIGHTS.    93 

duties  at  New  York.  Unjust  as  it  was  unpa- 
latable, this  regulation  was  either  slighted,  or 
obeyed  with  hesitation.  Dyer  immediately  com- 
plained of  the  opposition  he  encountered.  With 
singular  promptitude,  the  English  ministry,  in 
April,  1686,  answered  his  complaint  by  ordering 
the  issue  of  a  writ  of  quo  warranto  against  the 
proprietaries.  New  Jersey  was  threatened  with 
being  made  "more  dependent." 

Aroused  by  this  sudden  stroke,  the  proprie- 
taries prepared  an  earnest  remonstrance.  But  it 
•was  vain  to  appeal  to  the  justice  of  James. 
Finding  the  king  immovable,  the  proprietaries, 
in  1688,  formally  surrendered  their  claim  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  East  Jersey,  stipulating  only  for 
their  right  of  property  in  the  soil.  Against 
West  Jersey,  where  Coxe  was  still  claiming  ex- 
ecutive authority,  a  writ  of  quo  warranto  had 
likewise  been  issued.  In  October  of  the  same 
year,  the  province  was  yielded  up,  on  conditions 
similar  to  those  stipulated  by  the  eastern  pro- 
prietaries. Thus  all  New  Jersey,  along  with 
New  York  and  New  England,  was  brought  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  Andros,  whom  James  had 
commissioned  as  governor. 

Noting  the  quiet  compliance  with  which  his 
arbitrary  assumptions  had  been  received,  the 
king  was  dilatory  in  making  good  his  acquisition. 
While  the  necessary  grant  of  the  soil  to  the  pro- 
prietaries was  yet  unexecuted,  the  Revolution 


94  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1692. 

that  placed  William  of  Orange  on  the  British 
throne  arrested  the  completion  of  the  whole 
design. 

On  the  downfall  of  the  House  of  Stuart,  the 
proprietary  governments  of  the  two  Jerseys  were 
quietly  resumed.  In  the  eastern  province,  Ha- 
milton had  been  confirmed  as  deputy-governor 
by  Andros.  Doubting  as  to  what  would  be  his 
proper  conduct  in  the  changed  condition  of  af- 
fairs, in  August,  1689,  he  sailed  to  England,  to 
consult  personally  with  the  proprietaries,  leaving 
the  inhabitants  to  the  care  of  their  town  and 
county  officers.  From  this  period  until  1692, 
East  Jersey  had  no  other  government.  'Quarrel- 
ling among  themselves,  the  proprietaries  found 
it  hard  to  exact  obedience  from  their  subjects, 
who  rejected  two  successive  governors,  appointed 
after  the  death  of  Barclay — one  in  1690,  the 
other  in  the  following  year. 

This  difficulty,  however,  was  arranged  in 
1692,  by  the  selection  of  Hamilton,  the  former 
deputy,  who  was  at  the  same  time  commission- 
ed as  governor  of  the  western  province,  where 
Coxe  had  finally  abandoned  all  claim  to  au- 
thority. 

For  the  following  five  years  New  Jersey  en- 
joyed a  period  of  comparative  repose.  The  old 
dispute  about  land-titles,  however,  was  recom- 
menced with  considerable  bitterness.  Carried 
before  the  provincial  courts,  the  matter  was 


1697.]    BASSE  APPOINTED  GOVERNOR.      95 

decided  against  the  claimants  under  the  Indian 
title.  But  the  subsequent  annulment  of  this 
decision  by  a  royal  council,  again  laid  the  sub- 
ject open  to  discussion. 

Though  the  administration  of  Hamilton  had 
proved  highly  popular,  the  proprietaries,  in 
1697,  were  reluctantly  compelled  to  revoke  his 
commission,  in  consequence  of  a  late  parliament- 
ary enactment,  disabling  all  Scotchmen  from 
offices  of  public  trust  and  profit. 

The  successor  of  Hamilton  was  Jeremiah 
Basse.  Not  having  the  regular  approbation  of 
the  king,  the  advent  of  Basse  into  the  province 
was  the  signal  of  uproar.  A  majority  of  the 
resident  proprietaries  would  not  acknowledge  his 
authority  as  legal.  Thus  disowned,  Basse 
sought  to  strengthen  himself  by  favouring 
the  party  hitherto  adverse  to  the  proprietary 
government. 

In  the  midst  of  the  contention  that  now 
arose,  the  illiberality  of  the  neighbouring 
province  of  New  York  created  a  new  cause  of 
trouble.  Renewing  their  claim  to  supremacy 
over  New  Jersey,  the  assembly  of  New  York 
attempted  to  levy  a  duty  on  East  Jersey  ex- 
ports. Though  countenanced  by  the  Board 
of  Trade,  the  attempt  ended  in  a  failure,  but 
not  until  the  dispute  had  wellnigh  ripened 
into  a  war  between  the  provinces.  It  was  de- 
cided that  no  customs  could  be  imposed  upon 


96  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1699. 

the  Jerseys  unless  by  their  own  consent,  or  by 
an  Act  of  Parliament. 

Meantime,  the  popular  dissatisfaction  with 
Basse  continued  to  grow  in  strength,  until  it 
broke  out  in  complete  anarchy.  Offenders, 
who  had  tumultuously  defied  his  authority,  when 
imprisoned  were  immediately  set  at  liberty 
by  armed  mobs,  who  forced  their  way  into  the 
jails,  assailing  and  maltreating  the  officers 
placed  to  guard  them.  At  length,  finding  his 
situation  one  of  vexation  and  trouble,  Basse 
returned  to  England,  some  time  in  the  summer 
of  1699. 

Hoping  to  restore  tranquillity,  the  proprie- 
taries re-appointed  Hamilton.  But  it  was 
now  too  late.  Disorderly  and  seditious  meet- 
ings assembled,  denying  the  validity  of  his 
commission.  The  judges  of  his  appointing  were 
assaulted  in  open  court  by  bands  of  armed 
men.  Sheriffs  were  attacked  and  wounded  while 
in  the  performance  of  their  duties.  So  great 
became  the  confusion,  that,  in  succeeding  years, 
this  period  was  known  as  that  of  "  the  Revo- 
lution." 

The  cause  of  these  disturbances  seems  to  have 
been  the  claim  of  the  proprietaries  to  exclusive 
possession  of  the  soil,  under  grants  from  the 
Duke  of  York,  and  their  consequent  demand 
for  the  payment  of  quit-rents,  and  repudiation 
of  such  titles  as  had  been  derived  from  the  In- 


1702.]  THE   PROVINCES    UNITED.  97 

dians.  Apparently  viewing  the  proprietaries  as 
so  many  extortioners,  the  disaffected  colonists, 
heedless  of  what  the  result  might  be,  earnestly 
prayed  the  king  to  deprive  those  obnoxious  per- 
sons of  their  authority. 

At  length,  embarrassed  by  their  own  numbers 
and  conflicting  interests,  and  wearied  out  with 
an  ineffectual  struggle  to  exercise  their  seig- 
neurial  functions,  the  proprietaries  of  both  the 
Jerseys  were  induced  to  entertain  a  proposal 
from  the  royal  council,  to  cede  their  rights  of 
jurisdiction  to  the  crown.  Besides,  the  English 
Lords  of  Trade,  claiming  New  Jersey  as  a  royal 
province,  threatened  to  involve  them  in  an  ex- 
pensive suit  with  the  crown,  in  order  to  test  the 
validity  of  their  pretensions. 

In  such  a  suit,  their  chance  of  success  would 
have  been  slight.  Thus  menaced,  both  from 
within  and  from  without,  they  deemed  it  best  to 
surrender.  Accordingly,  after  a  lengthy  nego- 
tiation, in  which  they  secured  to  themselves  their 
property  in  the  soil,  and  their  quit-rents,  so 
odious  to  the  colonists,  the  proprietaries  of  New 
Jersey,  East  and  West,  formally  resigned  their 
"pretended"  rights  of  government,  before  the 
English  privy  council,  on  the  17th  of  April, 
1702. 

Queen  Anne,  now  on  the  British  throne,  im- 
mediately proceeded  to  unite  the  two  provinces 


98  HISTORY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1702. 

into  one.  Their  government,  along  with  that 
of  New  York,  was  entrusted  to  the  queen's 
kinsman,  Edward  Hyde,  Lord  Viscount  Corn- 
bury,  grandson  of  the  Earl  of  Clarendon. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  new  constitution  for  the  Jerseys — The  legislative  power — 
In  whom  vested — Slave  trade  ordered  to  be  encouraged — 
The  judiciary — Arrival  of  Lord  Cornbury — His  demand  for 
a  permanent  salary  rejected  by  the  assembly — Cornbury's 
illegal  proceedings — Opposed  by  Lewis  Morris  and  Samuel 
Jennings — The  assembly  wait  upon  Cornbury  with  a  re- 
monstrance— His  response — Retort  of  the  assembly — Con- 
duct of  Cornbury  censured  by  the  English  ministry — His 
removal — Imprisoned  by  his  creditors — Popular  administra- 
tion of  Lovelace — His  death — Ingoldsby  deputy-governor — 
War  between  France  and  England —  Capture  of  Port 
Royal. 

EMBODIED  in  the  commission  and  instructions 
of  the  crown  to  Governor  Cornbury,  the  new 
constitution  of  the  Jerseys  was  promulgated  on 
the  10th  of  November,  1702. 

Resembling  in  many  respects  that  of  the 
other  royal  provinces  in  America,  the  system  of 
government  thus  given  to  New  Jersey  was  far 
less  favourable  to  popular  freedom  than  were  the 
proprietary  concessions.  In  the  contests  be- 
tween the  proprietaries  and  the  people,  which 
had  partly  led  to  its  adoption,  the  former  had 


1702.]         PROVISIONS   OF   CONSTITUTION.  99 

lost  nothing  but  a  claim  to  authority  they  could 
never-  have  enforced,  while  the  latter  were  to  la- 
ment a  serious  curtailment  01*  their  former  civil 
liberties. 

The  legislative  power  of  the  province  was 
vested  in  the  governor,  twelve  counsellors,  and 
twenty-four  representatives.  Appointed  by  the 
crown  from  a  list  of  names  supplied  by  the  go- 
vernor, the  counsellors  were  to  be  men  of  "good 
lives  and  well  affected,"  "of  good  estates  and 
ability,"  and  "  not  necessitous  people  or  much 
in  debt."  The  representatives,  equally  divided 
between  East  and  West  Jersey,  were  each  re- 
quired to  possess  a  freehold  of  a  thousand  acres. 
The  laws  enacted  by  the  council  and  assembly 
were  subject  to  an  immediate  veto  from  the  go- 
vernor, and  a  veto  from  the  crown  at  any  time. 
The  assembly  was  to  meet  at  the  order  of  the 
governor,  who  might  adjourn,  prorogue,  or  dis- 
solve it,  according  to  his  discretion.  No  persons 
were  capable  of  voting  for  representatives  but 
colonists  possessing  a  hundred  acres  of  land,  or 
personal  property  to  the  value  of  fifty  pounds. 

Liberty  of  conscience  was  granted  to  all  save 
Roman  Catholics.  Quakers  were  allowed  to 
hold  office,  and  their  affirmation  was  to  be  ac- 
cepted in  lieu  of  the  customary  oaths.  The 
especial  favour  of  the  governor  was  invoked  for 
the  Episcopacy,  and  he  was  "  to  take  care  that 
God  Almighty  be  duly  served,"  and  « the  blessed 


100  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1704. 

sacrament  administered  according  to  the  rites 
of  the  Church  of  England."  Closely  following 
this  display  of  royal  interest  in  the  cause  of 
religion,  was  an  injunction  to  the  governor  to  en- 
courage the  traffic  in  "merchantable  negroes," 
with  which  the  Royal  African  Company  were 
to  supply  the  province  "  at  moderate  rates." 

No  printing  press  was  allowed,  nor  the  print- 
ing of  any  "book,  pamphlet,  or  other  matters 
whatsoever,  without  a  license."  In  the  forma- 
tion of  the  judiciary,  the  people  took  no  part ; 
the  governor,  with  the  consent  of  his  council, 
instituting  courts  of  law,  and  appointing  their 
officers.  In  suits  of  law,  where  the  value  in  dis- 
pute exceeded  a  hundred  pounds,  an  appeal  was 
admitted  from  the  provincial  courts  to  the  go- 
vernor and  council ;  and  when  it  exceeded  two 
hundred  pounds,  ultimate  jurisdiction  rested  in 
the  English  privy  council. 

"\Vith  the  executive,  the  press,  and  the  judi- 
ciary thus  at  the  pleasure  of  the  crown,  it  was 
not  long  before  the  people  of  New  Jersey  became 
sensible  of  the  abridgment  of  their  liberties. 
Conscious  of  being  subjected  to  wrong,  they 
soon  began  to  claim  the  privileges  of  their 
earlier  and  freer  condition. 

Lord  Cornbury  arrived  in  the  province  in 
August,  1703,  and  personally  met  the  general 
assembly  at  Arnboy.  During  the  next  session, 
held  at  Burlington,  in  September,  1704,  the 


1704.]          PROCEEDINGS   OF   GOVERNOR.  101 

pleasing  opinions  previously  entertained  of  Corn- 
bury's  good  qualities,  began  to  be  dispelled  by 
the  realities  of  acquaintanceship.  Grasping  and 
needy,  he  demanded  an  annual  salary  of  two 
thousand  pounds  for  twenty  years.  Accustomed 
to  pay  but  moderate  sums  for  the  support  of  go- 
vernment, the  popular  branch  of  the  assembly 
would  allow  no  more  than  thirteen  hundred  a 
year  for  three  years.  Cornbury  vainly  en- 
deavoured to  procure  an  increase.  At  length, 
finding  the  house  immovable,  he  declared  it  dis- 
solved, and  ordered  the  election  of  a  second,  to 
meet  in  the  following  November. 

Employing  various  artifices,  Cornbury  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  a  large  proportion,  but  not  a 
majority  of  the  assembly.  Complete  control 
being  thus  almost  within  his  grasp,  he  did  not 
hesitate  to  adopt  the  advice  of  his  subservient 
council,  and  refused  to  admit  three  of  the  newly- 
elected  members  to  their  seats,  on  the  feigned 
ground  that  their  estates  were  not  as  large  as 
the  royal  instructions  required.  By  this  unjusti- 
fiable proceeding  he  secured  a  majority  of  one 
favourable  to  his  views.  Recklessly  prodigal  in 
his  expenditures,  his  thirst  for  money  was  first 
to  be  gratified  by  raising  his  salary  to  two 
thousand  pounds  a  year.  It  was  to  remain  at 
this  rate  for  two  years  only.  A  stringent  act 
for  the  establishment  of  a  general  system  of  mi- 
litia, which  the  former  assembly  had  refused  to 


102  HISTOKY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1707. 

adopt,  was  now  passed,  greatly  to  the  discomfort 
of  the  Quaker  colonists,  who  were  subsequently 
subjected  to  harassing  and  unnecessary  prosecu- 
tions under  its  provisions. 

During  the  two  following  sessions,  in  1705 
and  1706,  no  business  of  importance  was  trans- 
acted. The  governor,  however,  found  his  sup- 
porters dwindling  down  into  an  ineffective 
minority. 

It  being  necessary  to  call  a  third  assembly,  so 
that  his  salary  might  be  renewed,  Cornbury 
ordered  an  election.  All  his  efforts  to  regain 
his  lost  ascendency  were  of  no  avail.  In  the 
new  assembly,  which  convened  in  April,  1707, 
there  was  an  overwhelming  opposition,  at  the 
head  of  which  were  Lewis  Morris  and  Samuel 
Jennings.  The  former,  from  the  eastern  section 
of  the  province,  was  of  an  eccentric  but  liberal 
mind,  and  had  been  twice  expelled  from  the 
council  for  his  determined  opposition  to  the 
measures  of  Cornbury.  The  latter,  coming 
from  West  Jersey,  was  a  true-hearted  Quaker, 
the  natural  quickness  and  fire  of  whose  temper, 
prudence  restrained  and  benevolence  softened. 
Both  were  men  of  influence,  possessing  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  the  interests  of  the  province,  with 
the  will,  ability,  and  courage  to  uphold  them. 

Having  met,  the  house,  after  a  consideration 
of  the  public  grievances,  adopted  a  petition  to 
the  queen,  and  a  remonstrance  to  the  governor. 


1707.]        REMONSTRANCE    OF   ASSEMBLY.  103 

Following  the  custom  of  the  day,  the  assembly 
waited  on  Cornbury  with  their  remonstrance, 
which  was  probably  the  production  of  Morris. 
Jennings,  as  speaker,  read  it  audibly,  and  with 
deliberation.  Briefly,  it  was  as  follows  : — 

"  To  lay  before  the  governor  the  unhappy 
circumstances  of  this  province,  is  a  task  we 
undertake,  not  of  choice,  but  necessity. 

"  We  think  it  a  great  hardship  that  persons 
accused  of  any  crime  shquld  be  obliged  to  pay 
court-fees,  notwithstanding  the  jury  have  found 
no  bill  against  them.  The  granting  of  patents 
for  the  exclusive  carriage  of  goods  from  Bur- 
lington to  Amboy,  we  think  to  be  a  grievance, 
contrary  to  the  statute  against  monopolies.  The 
establishing  fees  by  any  other  authority  than 
the  general  assembly,  we  take  to  be  a  great 
grievance,  directly  repugnant  to  Magna  Charta. 
The  governor's  putting  the  records  of  the  eastern 
division  of  this  province  into  the  hands  of  a 
pretended  agent  of  the  proprietors,  who  has  not 
given  security  for  the  faithful  keeping  of  them, 
is  a  crying  grievance. 

"  These,  governor,  are  some  of  the  grievances 
this  province  complains  of;  but  there  are  others 
of  a  higher  nature. 

"  The  governor  has  prohibited  the  proprietors' 
agents  from  granting  warrants  for  land  in  the 
western  division  of  this  province.  This  is  a 
great  encroachment  on  the  proprietors'  liberties, 


104  HISTORY   OP   NEW   JERSEY.  [1707. 

but  we  are  not  surprised  at  it,  for  a  greater  led 
the  way.  That  was  the  governor's  refusing  to 
swear  three  members  of  the  last  assembly,  upon 
the  groundless  charges  of  two  of  the  council. 
We  would  not  answer  the  trust  reposed  in  us, 
were  we  to  decline  letting  the  governor  know  our 
extreme  dissatisfaction  with  so  notorious  a  viola- 
tion of  the  liberties  of  the  people. 

"  Considerable  sums  of  money  were  raised  to 
procure  the  dissolution  of  the  first  assembly,  in 
order  to  obtain  such  officers  as  the  contributors 
might  approve.  This  house  has  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  money  was  given  to  Lord  Cornbury, 
and  did  induce  him  to  dissolve  the  then  assembly, 
and  keep  three  members  out  of  the  next.  We 
cannot  but  be  very  uneasy  when  we  find  by  these 
new  methods  of  government,  our  liberties  and 
properties  so  much  shaken,  that  no  man  can  say 
he  is  master  of  either.  Liberty  is  too  valuable 
a  thing  to  be  easily  parted  with.  They  have 
neither  heads,  hearts,  nor  souls,  that  are  not 
forward  with  their  utmost  power  lawfully  to  re- 
dress the  miseries  of  their  country. 

"  We  conclude  by  advising  the  governor  that, 
to  engage  the  affections  of  the  people,  no 
artifice  is  needful,  but  let  them  be  unmolested 
in  the  enjoyment  of  what  belongs  to  them  of 
right." 

Sharp  and  spirited  in  its  tone,  this  remon- 
strance lost  nothing  in  its  delivery.  At  the 


1707.]  CORNBURY'S  REPLY.  105 

more  pointed  passages,  Cornburr,  assuming  a 
stern  air  of  authority,  would  break  in  with, 
"  Stop  !  what's  that  ?"  When  thus  interrupted, 
the  undaunted  Jennings,  affecting  deep  humility, 
would  calmly  read  over  again  the  offensive  pas- 
sages, with  greater  and  more  stinging  emphasis 
than  before. 

The  reply  of  Cornbury  was  weak  and  undig- 
nified, though  no  point  of  the  remonstrance  was 
left  unnoticed.  Denying  the  truth  of  some  of 
the  charges,  he  sought  to  justify  others.  In  an 
uncalled-for  reflection  upon  the  Quakers,  he 
charged  them  with  disloyalty  and  faction. 
Singling  out  Jennings  and  Morris,  he  poured 
upon  them  the  severity  of  his  abuse,  declaring 
them  to  be  "  men  known  to  have  neither  good 
principles  nor  good  morals." 

Cornbury's  reply  drew  a  second  paper  from 
the  house,  reiterating  and  amplifying  their 
former  .complaints.  In  regard  to  his  charges 
against  the  Quakers,  they  answered: — "With 
those  persons,  considered  as  Quakers,  we  have 
nothing  to  do.  They,  perhaps,  will  think  them- 
selves obliged  to  vindicate  their  meetings  from 
the  aspersions  which  your  excellency  bestows 
upon  them,  and  to  show  the  world  how  be- 
coming it  is  for  the  governor  of  a  province  to 
enter  the  lists  of  controversy  with  people  who 
thought  themselves  entitled  to  his  protection 
in  the  enjoyment  of  their  religious  liberties." 


106  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1709. 

Such  of  them  as  were  members  of  the  house 
begged  leave  to  answer  the  governor's  charge, 
in  the  words  of  Nehemiah  to  Sanballat :  — 
"There  are  no  such  things  done  as  thou  say- 
est,  but  thou  feignest  them  out  of  thine  own 
heart." 

Refusing  to  receive  this  answer  to  his  reply, 
Cornbury  prorogued  the  house.  Meeting  again 
in  May,  1708,  they  were  at  length  dismissed, 
and  then  dissolved,  the  governor  finding  that 
nothing  could  be  obtained  from  them,  without 
disagreeable  concessions  upon  his  part. 

This  was  the  last  time  Cornbury  met  the 
assembly  of  New  Jersey.  In  New  York,  as 
in  New  Jersey,  his  administration  had  pro- 
duced universal  dissatisfaction,  while  the  follies 
and  vices  he  exhibited  in  private  life  were 
such  as  to  create  the  profoundest  disgust. 
The  Lords  of  Trade,  on  complaint  of  the  own- 
ers of  a  merchant  vessel  which  he  had  seized 
at  New  York,  under  some  pretence  of  violations 
of  the  Acts  of  Trade,  pronounced  his  conduct 
censurable  and  illegal.  Frequent  and  earnest 
petitions  were  poured  into  the  queen  for  his 
removal,  and,  at  length,  though  her  cousin, 
she  deprived  him  of  his  commission  in  the 
year  1709.  No  sooner  was  he  removed  from 
his  office  than  his  creditors  cast  him  into  jail, 
where  he  remained  a  prisoner  for  debt,  in  the 
province  he  had  governed,  until,  succeeding 


1709.]       DEATH  OF  LOVELACE.         107 

to  the  earldom  of  Clarendon,  the  privilege  of 
peerage  set  him  at  liberty.  He  then  returned 
to  Europe,  accompanied  by  the  odium  which 
his  character  deserved,  as  a  mixture  of  arro- 
gance and  meanness,  bigotry  and  intolerance, 
rapacity  and  prodigality.  But  he  had  ac- 
complished good,  though  -without  design.  His 
arbitrary  conduct  had  created  and  strengthen- 
ed in  both  provinces  a  spirit  of  freedom,  bold 
and  watchful,  and  already  acquainted  with  the 
necessity  and  the  methods  of  resistance. 

The  liberal  and  conciliatory  conduct  of  Corn- 
bury's  successor,  Lord  Lovelace,  gave  hopes 
of  a  happy  administration.  But  the  pleasant 
prospect  was  presently  overclouded  by  the 
death  of  the  new  and  popular  governor.  In- 
goldsby,  the  subservient  lieutenant  of  Corn- 
bury,  for  a  time  occupied  the  station  thus  left 
vacant. 

For  several  years  war  had  been  waging  be- 
tween France  and  England.  By  the  incursions 
of  the  French  and  Indians  from  Canada,  the 
northern  provinces  had  suffered  greatly,  and, 
in  the  year  1709,  the  immediate  neighbourhood 
of  Boston  was  threatened  by  a  marauding  party 
of  the  enemy,  who  attacked  and  destroyed  the 
town  of  Haverhill,  on  the  Merrimac,  massacre- 
ing  many  of  the  inhabitants,  and  dragging  others 
into  captivity. 

Alarmed  at  this  onslaught,  the  New  England 


108  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1710. 

people  begged  assistance  from  the  queen.  Vetch, 
a  Boston  merchant,  was  sent  to  England  to  press 
the  petition.  He  returned  shortly  with  the 
promise  of  a  fleet  and  army,  to  co-operate  with 
colonial  troops  in  a  simultaneous  attack  on  Que- 
bec and  Montreal.  In  pursuance  of  his  instruc- 
tions, Ingoldsby  called  upon  New  Jersey  for  as- 
sistance. With  spirited  alacrity  the  assembly 
voted  to  raise  a  certain  number  of  troops.  Ap- 
propriating three  thousand  pounds  to  aid  the 
expedition,  they  sanctioned  the  issue  of  the  first 
paper  money  in  the  province. 

The  expected  army  from  England  not  arriving, 
the  enterprise  was  never  prosecuted.  But  Colo- 
nel Nicholson,  with  the  provincial  levies,  planned 
and  executed  a  successful  attack  upon  Port  Royal, 
by  which  full  possession  of  Nova  Scotia  was  ob- 
tained, on  the  5th  of  October,  1710. 


1710.]     HUNTER' APPOINTED  GOVERNOR.      109 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Arrival  of  Governor  Hunter- — His  speech  to  the  assembly — 
His  popularity — Invasion  of  Canada  advocated  by  Nicholson 
— Organization  of  the  provincial  levies — Disastrous  failure  of 
the  expedition — Treaty  of  Utrecht — Quaker  difficulties  in 
New  Jersey — Opposition  against  Hunter — 'His  success — 
Provincial  demonstrations  of  regard — Burnet  appointed  go- 
vernor— His  removal  to  Massachusetts — Montgomery  go- 
vernor— Petition  for  a  separate  government — Administration 
of  Crosby — Of  Hamilton — Separation  of  the  Jerseys  from 
the  government  of  New  York — Morris  commissioned  go- 
vernor— Rapid  decline  of  his  popularity — Maintains  the 
royal  prerogatives — War  declared  between  England  and 
France — 'Shirley  plans  an  expedition  against  Louisburg — 
Sharp  controversy  between  Morris  and  the  assembly — 
Death  of  Morris — Succeeded  by  Hamilton — Feeble  and 
abortive  attempt  to  invade  Canada — Peace  of  Aix-la-Cha- 
pelle. 

MEANTIME  Ingoldsby  had  been  removed. 
His  successor  was  Robert  Hunter,  a  Scotchman 
by  birth.  Entering  life  as  the  runaway  ap- 
prentice of  an  apothecary,  Hunter  had  enlisted 
as  a  common  soldier  in  the  British  army,  where 
he  gradually  rose  to  military  rank.  His  engag- 
ing person  and  manners  had  obtained  for  him 
the  hand  of  a  peeress — his  wit  and  social  quali- 
ties the  friendship  of  Addison  and  Swift. 

Brief,  frank,  and  soldierly,  and  concluding 
with  the  excellent  maxim,  that  "  all  power  ex- 
10 


110  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1711. 

cept  that  of  doing  good  is  a  burden,"  his  open- 
ing speech  to  the  assembly  produced  an  impres- 
sion eminently  favourable.  This  impression  his 
conciliatory  disposition,  and  open,  candid  bear- 
ing abundantly  confirmed,  rendering  him  the 
object  of  almost  affectionate  regard.  Supported 
by  the  talent  and  influence  of  Morris  in  the 
council,  his  administration  of  ten  years  glided 
on  with  scarcely  a  noticeable  interruption. 

Flushed  with  his  success  in  Nova  Scotia, 
Nicholson  repaired  to  England,  to  advocate  the 
reduction  of  Canada.  His  solicitations  obtained 
from  government  a  fleet  of  fifty-five  sail,  and 
seven  veteran  regiments  from  Marlborough's 
army.  This  fleet  arriving  at  Boston  in  June, 
1711,  Hunter  called  the  New  Jersey  assembly. 
Readily  answering  his  requisition,  they  ordered 
the  levy  of  a  regiment,  and  appropriated  twelve 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  in  bills  of  credit, 
to  defraying  its  expenses. 

At  the  head  of  about  fifteen  hundred  pro- 
vincials, from  Connecticut,  New  Jersey,  and 
New  York,  and  six  hundred  Iroquois,  Nicholson 
prepared,  at  Albany,  to  advance  upon  Montreal. 
But  the  combined  army  and  fleet,  under  General 
Hill  and  Admiral  Walker,  met  with  a  disastrous 
failure.  While  entering  the  St.  Lawrence,  on 
their  way  to  Quebec,  several  vessels  were  wreck- 
ed, and  more  than  eight  hundred  men  drowned. 
The  Quebec  expedition  being  consequently  frus- 


1716.]  QUAKER   DIFFICULTIES.  Ill 

trated,  Nicholson  could  not  do  otherwise  than 
abandon  his  designs  against  Montreal. 

From  this  period  the  operations  of  both  the 
belligerent  nations  grew  less  and  less  momentous, 
until  hostilities  were  brought  to  a  close  by  the 
Treaty  of  Utrecht,  in  1713. 

A  new  assembly  met  in  April,  1716,  in  which 
there  was  a  temporary  majority  of  the  old  adhe- 
rents of  Cornbury,  several  of  whom  had  been 
the  most  obnoxious  members  of  his  council. 
Daniel  Coxe,  son  of  him  who  has  already  been 
noticed  as  a  West  Jersey  proprietor,  was  chosen 
speaker  of  the  house. 

By  the  party  now  apparently  in  the  ascend- 
ant, it  was  argued  that  the  colonial  enactments 
permitting  Quakers  to  affirm  in  all  cases,  had 
been  annulled  by  a  late  parliamentary  law,  by 
which  it  was  insisted  that  they  should  be  solemn- 
ly sworn  before  taking  public  office,  sitting  on 
juries,  and  appearing  as  witnesses  in  capital 
trials.  Holding  to  this  construction,  the  clerk 
of  the  supreme  court,  contrary  to  a  previous 
ruling  of  Chief  Justice  Jameson,  refused  to  ad- 
minister to  grand-jurymen  any  thing  but  an 
oath.  Jameson  having  fined  the  clerk  for  con- 
tempt, was  in  turn  indicted  by  the  court  of 
quarter  sessions.  Hunter  sided  with  the  judge. 
The  indictment  was  nullified,  and  the  lawyers 
who  promoted  it  suspended  from  practice. 

Wearied  by  a  contest  with  the  new  house,  the 


112  HISTORY   OF  NEW   JERSEY.  [1719. 

governor  prorogued  it.  About  the  middle  of  May, 
he  summoned  it  to  meet  him  a  second  time  at 
Amboy.  Coxe  and  his  adherents,  intending  to 
keep  the  governor  out  of  his  supplies,  denounced 
this  call  as  illegal,  and  refused  to  attend,  on  the 
ground  that  every  other  session  was  to  be  held 
at  Burlington.  Stating  that  he  but  obeyed  the 
orders  of  his  sovereign,  Hunter  exerted  himself 
to  get  a  house  together.  He  succeeded  in  ob- 
taining one  with  a  mere  majority  favourable  to 
his  views.  Electing  John  Kinsey  in  the  place 
of  their  recusant  speaker,  they  presently  ex- 
pelled Coxe,  and  the  other  absentees,  for  "  con- 
tempt of  authority,  and  neglect  of  the  service 
of  their  country."  Several  -of  the  expelled 
members  were  re-elected ;  but  the  house  would 
not  suffer  them  to  take  their  seats. 

During  the  remainder  of  his  administration, 
Hunter  got  along  quite  smoothly.  And  when, 
in  1719,  his  health  failing,  he  sought  a  change 
of  climate,  by  applying  for  the  government  of 
Jamaica,  the  two  assemblies  of  New  York  and 
New  Jersey,  in  legislative  addresses,  presented 
him  the  warmest  testimonials  of  their  esteem 
and  regard.  The  name  of  Hunterdon  county 
still  bears  evidence  to  the  popularity  which  he 
obtained. 

The  honest  and  amiable  William  Burnet,  son 
of  the  celebrated  Bishop,  was  presently  com- 
missioned as  governor  of  the  two  provinces. 


1731.]  APPLY  FOR  SEPARATE  GOVERNOR.   113 

Enrolling  Morris  among  the  number  of  his  in- 
timates, and  exercising  those  popular  qualities 
he  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree,  he  easily 
overcame  the  slight  opposition  of  his  first  New 
Jersey  assembly.  In  return  for  his  ready  assent 
to  a  scheme  for  increasing  the  circulating  me- 
dium of  the  province,  they  granted  him  an  an- 
nual salary  of  five  hundred  pounds  for  five 
years. 

After  a  quiet  and  harmonious  administration 
of  nearly  seven  years,  "Burnet's  enemies  in  New 
York  procured  his  removal,  greatly  to  his  own 
and  to  the  assembly's  regret.  As  a  compensa- 
tion in  some  sort,  the  government  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay  was  conferred  upon  him.  Departing 
unwillingly  to  Boston,  he  remained  there  until 
his  sudden  death,  in  the  fall  of  1729. 

The  successor  of  Burnet  was  John  Mont- 
gomery, one  of  the  favourites  of  George  II. 
Of  mediocre  talents  and  yielding  disposition, 
the  brief  period  of  his  administration  presents 
nothing  of  marked  historical  importance. 

After  the  death  of  Montgomery,  in  1731,  the 
assembly  petitioned  for  a  separate  governor.. 
The  chief  officers  of  state  were  either  taken 
from  New  York,  or,  upon  their  appointment,, 
removed  thither;  and  it  was  there  that  the  go- 
vernor spent  the  principal  portion  of  his  time. 
In  consequence,  the  executive  and  judicial 
business  of  the  province  was  subjected  to  fre- 
10* 


114  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1738. 

quent  and  vexatious  delays.  The  grievance  was 
a  heavy  one  ;  but  the  petition  for  its  redress  re- 
ceived no  present  attention.  Four  years  passed 
turbulently  away  under  the  rule  of  William 
Crosby,  the  successor  of  Montgomery,  before  the 
Lords  of  Trade  reported  favourably  to  its 
prayer,  in"  August,  1736.  Pending  the  king's 
decision,  John  Hamilton,  son  of  the  old  pro- 
prietor, performed  the  duties  of  the  executive. 
At  length  the  request  for  a  separate  governor 
was  granted,  and,  in  17o8,  Morris,  the  favourite 
of  the  people,  received  the  royal  commission. 

Great  rejoicings  greeted  the  accession  of 
Morris,  and  he  entered  upon  his  duties  under 
the  most  flattering  auspices.  In  replying  to  his 
address,  the  assembly  expressed  the  most  san- 
guine expectations  of  his  administration.  Ap- 
propriating five  hundred  pounds  as  a  compen- 
sation for  his  services  in  procuring  the  late 
separation,  they  cheerfully  voted  him  an  an- 
nual salary  of  one  thousand  pounds  for  three 
years. 

But  this  clear  prospect  was  soon  clouded. 
Estimating  his  own  abilities  highly,  ambitious, 
and  tenacious  of  power,  Morris,  with  the  testi- 
ness  of  advanced  age,  became  entangled  in  re- 
peated quarrels  with  his  assemblies,  and  finally 
found  himself  as  odious  as  he  had  once  been 
popular.  Declaring  that  the  desire  common 
to  all  the  colonies,  of  rendering  the  executive 


1744.]  DISPUTES   WITH    MORRIS.  115 

dependent  on  the  people,  "was  nowhere  pur- 
sued with  more  steadiness  or  less  decency  than 
in  New  Jersey,"  he  in  turn  displayed  an  ob- 
stinate zeal  in  upholding  the  prerogative  of  the 
crown,  entirely  unexpected  from  one  who  had 
formerly  been  the  popular  champion  against  it. 
He  proposed  no  arbitrary  or  unjust  enactment, 
but  caused  the  defeat  of  many  that  would  have 
benefitted  the  province.  Worrying  the  assembly 
with  frequent  prorogations,  adjournments,  and 
dissolutions,  he  rendered  himself  the  most  ob- 
noxious of  the  royal  governors,  Cornbury  only 
excepted. 

In  1744,  the  peace  between  England  and 
France  was  again  ruptured.  The  contest  that 
ensued  soon  extended  to  the  colonies.  Having 
planned  the  capture  of  Louisburg,  Shirley,  of 
Massachusetts,  invited  the  other  provinces  to 
co-operate.  The  assembly  of  New  Jersey,  then 
engaged  in  a  sharp  controversy  with  Morris,  had 
refused  to  organize  the  militia,  or  to  vote  sup- 
plies, unless  the  governor  would  first  consent  to 
sanction  some  of  their  cherished  measures.  The 
chief  of  these  were  an  act  ordering  a  new  issue  of 
paper  money ;  an  act  to  compel  sheriffs  to  give 
security  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duties ; 
and  a  bill  to  prevent  actions  for  small  sums  in 
the  supreme  court.  Though  loudly  called  for 
by  the  people,  these  laws  were  calculated  to 
lessen  the  power  and  influence  of  the  executive. 


116  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1746. 

Morris  would  not  yield,  while  the  assembly 
prepared  to  starve  him  into  acquiescence,  by 
refusing  to  grant  his  salary.  They  furnished, 
however,  two  thousand  pounds  toward  the  Louis- 
burg  expedition,  which  was  abundantly  success- 
ful ;  but  they  would  not  order  a  levy. 

Morris  stubbornly  held  out  against  the  as- 
sembly, and  the  vexatious  dispute  was  main- 
tained with  much  bitterness,  until  cut  short 
by  the  death  of  the  governor,  on  the  21st  of 
May,  1746.  His  name,  borne  by  one  of  the 
counties  of  the  state,  still  testifies  to  the  early 
popularity  of  one  whose  widow  applied  vainly  to 
the  assembly  for  the  arrears  due  on  her  hus- 
band's salary. 

After  the  death  of  Morris,  the  government 
devolved  upon  Hamilton,  as  president  of  the 
council. 

Encouraged  by  the  reduction  of  Louisburg, 
the  colonies  were  led  to  entertain  their  old  pro- 
ject of  conquering  Canada.  For  this  purpose, 
the  New  Jersey  assembly  readily  sanctioned 
a  levy  of  five  hundred  troops.  In  less  than 
two  months,  over  six  hundred  zealous  colonists 
were  ready  for  the  field.  Formed  into  five 
companies,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Peter 
Schuyler,  they  presently  marched  to  the  ren- 
dezvous at  Albany.  But  the  energy  of  the 
provinces  was  weakly  seconded  by  the  home  go- 
vernment. Neither  general,  troops,  nor  orders, 


1747.]   BELCHER  APPOINTED  GOVERNOR.    117 

came   from   England,    and   the   enterprise   was 
finally  abandoned. 

By  both  parties  hostilities  were  feebly  main- 
tained, until  brought  to  a  close  by  the  peace  of 
Aix-la-Chapelle,  in  1748.  To  the  intense  morti- 
fication of  the  colonists,  Cape  Breton,  and 
Louisburg  its  capital,  so  dearly  bought  by  pro- 
vincial blood  and  treasure,  were  restored  to  the 
French  almost  without  an  equivalent. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Belcher  governor — Revival  of  quit-rent  disputes — A  commis- 
sion of  inquiry  ordered  by  the  crown — Claims  of  France  to 
the  Ohio  valley — 'Mission  of  George  Washington  to  Fort 
Le  Bceuf — The  works  commenced  at  the  forks  of  the  Ohio 
seized  by  the  French — Washington  ordered  to  protect  the 
Virginia  frontier — Skirmish  and  death  of  Jumonville  — 
Formal  declaration  of  war — A  plan  of  colonial  confedera- 
tion proposed — Rejected  by  the  provinces  and  the  Board  of 
Trade — Campaign  of  1755 — Defeat  of  Braddock — Victory 
of  Lake  George — Alarm  of  the  colonies — Indian  incursions 
— C||npaign  of  1756 — Loudoun  appointed  commander-in- 
chief — Descent  of  Montcalm  on  the  forts  at  Oswego — 
Treaty  with  the  Delawares. 

SHORTLY  after  the  death  of  Hamilton,  in 
1747,  Jonathan  Belcher,  previously  of  Massa- 
chusetts, received  the  royal  appointment  as  go- 
vernor of  New  Jersey.  Adopting  a  conciliatory 
policy  with  regard  to  the  paper-currency  bill, 


118  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1748. 

and  other  popular  measures,  he  was  enabled  to 
maintain  a  tolerably  fair  understanding  with 
the  assembly,  though  at  the  expense  of  a  rebuke 
from  the  Lords  of  Trade. 

But  the  ten  years  of  his  administration  was 
not  undisturbed.  In  the  time  of  Morris,  the 
old  quit-rent  dispute,  one  of  the  most  vexatious 
that  could  agitate  the  province,  had  been  revived 
with  unusual  asperity. 

Large  tracts  of  the  proprietary  lands  had 
fallen  into  the  possession  of  influential  persons, 
fully  disposed  to  urge  their  titles  against  those 
contended  for  by  the  Elizabethtown  claimants, 
under  the  sanction  of  Indian  conveyances.  By 
the  former,  writs  of  ejectment  were  issued,  and 
suits  for  the  recovery*  of  quit-rents  commenced 
against  their  opponents.  The  latter  resisted 
violently,  and,  in  1748,  associating  themselves 
for  mutual  protection,  they  broke  open  the  jail 
of  Essex  county,  and  liberated  a  person  im- 
prisoned at  the  suit  of  the  proprietors.  Long 
after  the  death  of  Morris,  their  combination  en- 
abled them  to  defy  the  civil  authorities,  and  the 
sympathies  of  the  popular  branch  of  the  as- 
sembly prevented  a  military  interference. 

When  Belcher  took  charge  of  the  province, 
this  trouble  was  at  its  height.  An  assembly 
being  summoned,  efforts  wer,e  made  to  heal  the 
disorders.  The  task  wds  one  of  difficulty. 
Applying  to  the  king,  the  governor,  and  the 


1751.]  QUIT-RENT    DIFFICULTY.  119 

council,  each  party  sought  to  criminate  the 
other.  The  proprietors  petitioned  that  it  should 
he  made  felony  for  twelve  or  more  persons  to 
remain  assembled,  after  having  heen  commanded 
to  disperse  by  the  civil  authorities.  But  the 
popular  branch  of  the  assembly  refused  to  le- 
gislate against  the  resistants.  A  subsequent 
act,  promising  pardon  and  oblivion  of  offences 
upon  certain  conditions,  met  with  no  hearty  re- 
sponse from  them,  while  the  proprietors  com- 
plained that  it  was  calculated  rather  to  encourage 
than  to  intimidate  the  rioters. 

In  1751  a  commission  of  inquiry  was  order- 
ed from  England.  In  the  mean  time  the  Eliza- 
bethtown  claimants  clung  to  their  possessions, 
thus  obtaining  what  they 'deemed  equal  to  a  vic- 
tory. But  for  many  years  the  province  was  dis- 
turbed by  dissensions  springing  from  this  fruit- 
ful source.  During  the  whole  period  of  Belcher's 
administration,  it  was  seldom  that  the  house  and 
the  council  could  be  brought  to  agree,  even  upon 
matters  disconnected  with  it ;  while,  up  to  the 
time  of  the  Revolution,  a  chancery  suit,  now 
begun  by  the  proprietors  against  the  Elizabeth- 
town  claimants,  remained  pending  without  any 
decision. 

Hostilities  between  France  and  England  soon 
involved  again  the  colonies.  At  the  best  but  a 
hollow  truce,  the  Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle  was 
early  disregarded.  Only  two  years  after  its 


120  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1754. 

conclusion,  both  nations,  taking  advantage  of 
the  undetermined  condition  of  their  territorial 
limits,  began  to  adopt  active  and  systematic 
measures  for  increasing  their  possessions  as  much 
as  possible. 

To  uphold  their  claims  to  the  country  on  the 
Ohio,  the  French,  far  more  energetic  than  their 
English  rivals,  erected  forts  Le  Boeuf  and 
Venango,  the  one  on  French  Creek,  and  the 
other  on  the  main  stream  of  the  Alleghany. 
Claiming  this  territory  for  Great  Britain,  Din- 
widdie  of  Virginia  despatched  George  Wash- 
ington, then  a  young  militia  officer  and  a  sur- 
veyor by  profession,  to  inquire  into  the  designs 
of  the  French.  Washington  "was  treated  with 
studied  courtesy  by  *the  commandant  at  Le 
Boeuf,  but  obtained  no  official  satisfaction  with 
regard  to  the  object  of  his  mission.  Heated 
with  wine,  the  French  officers,  however,  made 
no  secret  of  the  intention  of  France  to  secure 
possession  of  the  entire  region  on  the  Ohio  and 
the  lakes. 

Authorized  to  repel  such  aggression  by  force, 
Dinwiddie  presently  sent  a  captain's  command 
to  build  a  fort  at  the  confluence  of  the  Alle- 
ghany and  Monongahela.  Some  time  in  April, 
1754,  this  party  was  driven  off  by  the  French, 
who  took  possession  of  the  unfinished  works, 
completed  them,  and  named  the  fortification 
Duqucsne. 


1754.]  CONFEDERATION    REJECTED.  121 

Washington  was  immediately  despatched  to 
protect  the  frontier  thus  invaded.  Temporarily 
successful  over  the  enemy  under  Jumonville,  he 
was  subsequently  compelled  to  surrender,  after 
a  brief  but  spirited  resistance,  and  on  favour- 
able conditions,  to  a  greatly  superior  force  of 
French  and  Indians. 

These  occurrences  gave  the  signal  for  hostili- 
ties, though  war  was  not  formally  proclaimed 
until  1756.  Under  the  circumstances,  a  union 
of  the  colonies  was  deemed  desirable.  A  plan 
for  such  a  union,  drawn  up  by  Franklin,  was 
adopted  by  a  convention  of  committees  from 
several  colonial  assemblies,  which  met  at  Albany, 
in  June,  1754.  By  this  plan,  a  grand  council 
of  representatives  from  frhe  colonial  assemblies, 
presided  over  by  a  governor-general  appointed 
by  the  crown,  were  to  enact  general  laws,  and 
provide  for  the  common  defence  of  the  colonies. 
Containing  germs  of  the  present  federal  com- 
pact, it  can  scarcely  be  claimed  as  original  with 
Franklin.  So  early  as  1722,  Coxe,  the  expelled 
speaker  of  the  New  Jersey  house,  had  proposed 
a  plan  resembling  it  closely. 

Submitted  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  and  to  the 
provincial  assemblies,  Franklin's  scheme  was  re- 
jected by  the  former,  as  being  too  favourable  to 
colonial  independence,  and  by  the  latter  as 
giving  undue  power  to  the  crown.  The  New 
Jersey  assembly,  which  had  declined  sending 
11 


122  HISTORY    OF   NEW  JERSEY.  [1755. 

commissioners  to  the  convention,  voted  against 
the  proposition,  because  "it  might  be  preju- 
dicial to  the  prerogative,  and  to  the  liberties  of 
the  people." 

Probably  the  most  powerful  motive  for  the  re- 
jection of  this  plan,  by  the  Board  of  Trade, 
originated  in  their  desire  to  secure  the  adoption 
of  one  of  their  own.  In  the  scheme  they  had 
already  suggested,  taxation  of  the  provinces  by 
parliamentary  enactment  was  advocated.  No- 
thing could  have  been  more  hateful  to  the  colo- 
nists. The  ministerial  project  was  dropped 
without  the  formality  of  a  distinct  rejection. 

Finding  war  inevitable,  the  English  govern- 
ment appointed  General  Braddock  commandBr- 
in-chief  of  the  army  in  North  America.  Early 
in  1755  he  was  despatched  with  two  regiments 
to  the  colonies.  Anticipating  his  arrival,  the 
several  provincial  assemblies  were  called  upon 
for  troops.  The  summons  was  willingly  respond- 
ed to.  New  Jersey  ordered  the  levy  of  a  regi- 
ment five  hundred  strong,  the  command  of  which 
was  given  to  the  veteran  Schuyler.  Seventy 
thousand  pounds  of  new  paper  were  issued  to 
pay  the  expenses  of  these  troops. 

.Arriving  early  in  March,  Braddock  met  a 
council  of  colonial  governors  at  Alexandria,  on 
the  Potomac,  to  concert  measures  for  a  cam- 
paign. Separate  but  simultaneous  expeditions 


1755.]     TROOPS  SENT  TO  ALBANY. 

were  planned  against  Niagara,  Crown  Point,  and 
Fort  Duquesne. 

Apprehending  most  an  invasion  through  New 
York  from  Canada,  the  two  northern  expeditions 
were  especially  favoured  by  New  Jersey.  Having 
been  provided  with  arms  from  Virginia,  at  the 
expense  of  the  assembly,  Schuyler's  regiment 
proceeded  to  the  rendezvous  at  Albany,  while 
Braddock  was  pursuing  his  slow  and  toilsome 
march  to  the  forks  of  the  Ohio.  At  Albany, 
the  regiment  appears  to  have  been  divided ;  part 
being  joined  to  the  Crown  Point  expedition, 
under  Colonel  Johnson,  of  New  York,  while 
Schuyler,  with  the  remainder,  accompanied 
Shirley,  the  governor  of  Massachusetts,  in  his 
march  to  attack  Niagara. 

Leading  the  advance  against  Crown  Point, 
Lyman,  of  Connecticut,  by  the  8th  of  August, 
had  completed  Fort  Edward,  at  the  portage  be- 
tween the  Hudson  and  Lake  George.  Johnson 
presently  came  up,  and  marched  the  main  army 
to  the  southern  shore  of  the  lake,  where  a  strong 
camp  was  formed. 

Meanwhile  the  Baron  Dieskau,  with  four 
thousand  French  troops,  had  arrived  in  Canada. 
Hearing  that  Johnson  contemplated  an  attack  on 
Crown  Point,  Dieskau  sought  to  divert  his  at- 
tention, by  advancing  upon  Fort  Edward,  at  the 
head  of  a  mixed  force  of  regulars,  Canadians, 
and  savages. 


124  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1755. 

Tidings  of  the  French  general's  movement 
having  reached  the  English  camp,  Johnson  sent 
forward  a  detachment  of  one  thousand  provin- 
cials to  relieve  the  fort.  Dieskau,  however,  had 
changed  his  mind,  and  was  advancing  upon 
Johnson  himself.  Ignorant  of  this,  the  detach- 
ment marched  without  caution,  unapprehensive 
of  meeting  the  enemy.  Suddenly,  when  about 
three  miles  from  the  camp,  they  encountered  the 
whole  force  of  the  French.  A  fierce  and  san- 
guinary conflict  ensued.  Fighting  gallantly 
against  superior  numbers,  the  provincials  fell 
back  slowly  toward  the  camp,  with  the  loss  of 
their  commander,  Colonel  Williams. 

Pressing  the  fugitives,  Dieskau  hoped  to  pene- 
trate the  camp,  in  the  midst  of  the  confusion  it 
was  expected  that  their  appearance  would  create. 
But  Johnson  was  prepared.  A  few  pieces  of 
cannon,  hastily  brought  from  the  lake  shore, 
opened  upon  the  French  as  they  came  in  sight. 
The  Indians  and  Canadians  took  to  the  woods, 
leaving  Dieskau,  with  his  regulars  alone,  to  break 
the  English  lines.  Struggling  obstinately  for 
victory,  the  gallant  regulars,  during  five  hours, 
rushed  again  and  again,  only  to  be  repulsed, 
upon  the  slight  breastwork  of  the  Americans. 
At  length  they  faltered.  Springing  from  be- 
hind their  entrenchments,  the  provincials  droye 
them  back  in  disorder.  Thrice  wounded,  the 
brave  but  unfortunate  Dieskau,  was  unable  to 


1755.]       DEFEAT  OF  BRADDOCK.        125 

follow  his  vanquished  army.  Seated  upon  the 
stump  of  a  tree,  with  his  military  trappings  by 
his  side,  he  was  found  by  a  renegade  Frenchman, 
fired  at,  and  wounded  fatally. 

The  battle  of  Lake  George  was  celebrated  as 
a  triumph;  but  Johnson  neglected,  or  was  un- 
able to  improve  his  success.  Crown  Point  was 
left  untried,  and  the  French  were  permitted  to 
fortify  themselves  at  Ticonderoga.  During  the 
fall,  however,  the  provincials  were  employed  in 
building  Fort  William  Henry.  Garrisoning  the 
new  fortress  with  six  hundred  men,  Johnson  dis- 
missed the  remainder  to  their  homes. 

Meanwhile,  Shirley  had  performed  a  slow  and 
toilsome  march  to  Oswego,  reaching  that  place 
during  the  month  of  August.  In  the  midst  of 
extensive  preparations  for  embarking  to  the 
siege  of  Niagara,  most  discouraging  news  arrived 
from  Braddock,  with  whom  the  expedition  was 
to  co-operate.  That  brave,  but  vain-glorious 
and  self-opinionated  commander,  disregarding 
the  wholesome  advice  of  his  provincial  officers, 
had  met  disastrous  defeat  and  death  while  on 
his  way  to  besiege  Fort  Duquesne.  Dishearten- 
ed by  this  intelligence,  and  delayed  by  heavy 
rains,  Shirley  finally  abandoned  his  design 
against  Niagara.  In  the  mean  time,  two  sub- 
stantial forts  had  been  built  upon  the  right  and 
left  banks  of  the  Oswego  River,  a  short  distance 
from  the  lake.  Leaving  in  these  strong  gar- 
ii" 


126  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1755. 

risons,  including  the  New  Jersey  troops  under 
Schuyler,  Shirley  returned  to  Albany. 

Braddock's  defeat  filled  the  colonies  with 
alarm.  The  whole  western  frontier  was  left  ex- 
posed to  the  horrors  of  savage  warfare.  Bel- 
cher immediately  summoned  an  assembly,  but 
nearly  six  months  elapsed  before  they  awoke  to 
the  full  necessity  of  answering  the  call.  Mean- 
while the  hitherto  faithful  Delawares  were 
swept  away  in  the  general  Indian  defection. 
Inflicting  the  most  terrible  cruelties,  numerous 
bands  of  savages  roamed  without  molestation 
along  the  western  lines  of  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania, and  finally  crossed  the  Delaware  into 
New  Jersey. 

In  this  emergency,  the^eal  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Sussex  county  was  displayed.  To  the  num- 
ber of  four  hundred,  they  marched  promptly  to 
Easton,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  John 
Anderson.  Their  presence  was  of  great  service 
in  overawing  the  Indian  bands.  Aged  and  in- 
firm, Belcher  was  yet  active  in  calling  out  the 
resources  of  the  province.  When  the  assembly 
met  in  December,  Schuyler  and  his  half  regi- 
ment were  recalled  from  Oswego.  Stationed  on 
the  frontier,  they  remained  there  until  the 
opening  of  spring,  when  they  again  marched  to 
the  north,  their  place  being  supplied  by  vo- 
lunteers. 

During  the  winter,  however,  outlying  parties 


1756.]  CAMPAIGN   OF   1750". 

of  the  savages  hung  around  the  settlements, 
rendering  it  necessary  to  erect  numerous  forts 
and  blockhouses,  among  the  mountains  and  along 
the  Delaware.  But  the  actual  hurt  they  wrought 
was  far  less  than  the  intense  apprehension  their 
vicinity  excited. 

Neglected  success,  failure,  and  deplorable  de- 
feat, had  distinguished  the  campaign  of  1755. 
That  of  1756  was  altogether  disastrous.  Ele- 
vated by  the  death  of  Braddock  to  the  chief 
command,  Shirley,  on  the  opening  of  spring, 
began  extensive  preparations  for  important  ex- 
peditions to  the  north.  His  exertions  had  as- 
sembled a  considerable  force  at  Albany,  when 
he  was  notified  to  return  to  England. 

A  procrastinater  by  habit,  Lord  Loudoun,  the 
successor  of  Shirley,  did  not  arrive  until  the 
summer  was  well-nigh  spent.  While  General 
Webb,  with  a  regiment  of  regulars,  was  to  re- 
inforce Oswego,  Loudoun  determined  to  proceed 
with  the  main  army  against  Crown  Point  and 
Ticonderoga.  Great  expense  had  been  incurred 
by  the  northern  colonies,  and  it  was  still  hoped 
that  the  campaign  would  result  in  a  success  pro- 
portioned to  the  outlay.  But  this  expectation 
was  doomed  to  disappointment. 

Having  succeeded  Dieskau  as  commander  of 
the  French  forces  in  Canada,  the  Marquis  of 
Montcalm,  at  the  head  of  five  thousand  regulars, 
militia,  and  Indians,  suddenly  appeared  before 


128  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1756. 

the  forts  at  Oswego,  on  the  evening  of  the 
twelfth  of  August.  Against  Fort  Ontario, 
crowning  an  eminence  opposite  to,  and  com- 
manding the  main  works,  Montcalm  opened  a 
heavy  cannonade  early  in  the  following  morn- 
ing. Gallantly  sustaining  this  during  the  day, 
the  besieged,  finding  their  ammunition  expended, 
at  nightfall  spiked  their  cannon  and  silently 
crossed  to  Oswego.  The  deserted  post  was  im- 
mediately occupied  by  Montcalm.  On  the  four- 
teenth, Mercer  the  English  commander  was 
slain.  After  a  brief  bombardment,  the  dis- 
heartened garrison  surrendered  as  prisoners  of 
war.  Few  perished  on  either  side,  but  the 
French  were  overjoyed  with  the  amount  of  their 
booty.  Six  ships  of  war,  three  hundred  boats, 
immense  stores  of  ammunition  and  provisions,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  cannon  and  sixteen  hundred 
troops  fell  thus  easily  into  their  hands.  To 
allay  the  jealousy  of  his  savage  allies,  the  poli- 
tic Montcalm  destroyed  both  forts  and  left  Os- 
wego a  solitude. 

Tardily  advancing,  Webb  met  the  disastrous 
tidings  at  the  Oneida  portage.  He  fell  back 
with  precipitation  to  Albany.  Disconcerted  by 
these  events,  Loudoun  recalled  the  troops  march- 
ing against  Ticonderoga,  dismissed  the  provin- 
cials, and  abandoned  all  offensive  operations  for 
the  campaign. 

Among  the  prisoners  at  Oswego,  were  Schuy- 


1756.]       TKEATY  WITH   THE   DELAWAKES.         129 

ler  and  his  half  regiment.  Carried  to  Canada, 
a  new  enlistment  presently  supplied  their  loss. 
Schuyler,  however,  was  soon  released  on  parole, 
with  the  promise  that  he  would  return  if  no 
suitable  exchange  should  be  offered  for  him. 
Welcomed  home  with  illuminations  and  other 
tokens  of  joy,  the  veteran  colonel  remained 
there  until  the  spring  of  1758.  It  was  then 
that  the  French  commandant  in  Canada  "sent 
to  demand  the  brave  old  Peter  Schuyler  of  New 
Jersey,  as  no  person  had  been  exchanged  for 
him."  Thrusting  aside  the  friends  who  en- 
treated him  to  stay,  the  gallant  old  officer,  true 
to  his  plighted  word,  went  back  again  into 
captivity. 

Meanwhile,  Sir  William  Johnson  had  succeed- 
ed in  procuring  at  Easton  a  treaty  of  peace 
with  the  Delawares.  A  partial  relief  was  thus 
afforded  to  the  western  frontiers.  But  during 
the  spring  and  summer  of  1757,  a  continual 
alarm  was  kept  up  by  scalping  parties  of  savages 
from  Canada  and  the  Ohio.  Committing  depre- 
dations within  thirty  miles  of  Philadelphia,  these 
bands  did  not  neglect  to  visit  the  north-western 
settlements  of  New  Jersey,  for  the  protection 
of  which  it  was  found  necessary  to  maintain  a 
company  of  Rangers. 


130  HISTORY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1756. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Increase  of  British  power  in  the  colonies — Subordination  of 
colonial  officers — Indignation  in  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Jersey — Campaign  of  1757 — Co-operation  of  New  Jersey — 
Expedition  against  Louisburg — Inactivity  of  Loudoun  at 
Halifax — Energetic  movements  of  Montcalm — Siege  of 
Fort  William  Henry — Surrender  of  Munro —  Attempted 
massacre  of  the  prisoners — Heroic  conduct  of  Montcalm — 
Alarm  of  General  Webb — Death  of  Governor  Belcher — 
Campaign  of  1758 — Masterly  arrangements  of  Pitt — Hearty 
response  of  the  colonies — Capture  of  Louisburg — Repulse 
of  Abercrombie  before  Ticonderoga — Fort  Frontenac  taken 
by'  Bradstreet — Evacuation  of  Fort  Duquesne — Indian 
council  at  the  forks  of  the  Delaware — Campaign  of  1759 — 
Invasion  of  Canada  projected — Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point  abandoned  by  the  French — Surrender  of  Fort  Niagara 
— Capture  of  Quebec — Peace  of  Fontainebleau — Change 
of  governors  in  New  Jersey — Indian  outrages. 

DURING  the  year  1756  Parliament  had  effect- 
ed a  signal  extension  of  its  authority  over  the 
colonies.  Military  rule,  enforced  with  imperious 
arrogance  by  Loudoun,  had  been  established,  in- 
dependent of  the  provincial  governments.  By 
its  power,  troops  had  been  quartered  upon  the 
inhabitants  against  their  indignant  and  earnest 
remonstrances,  and  the  colonial  officers  had  been 
degraded  to  a  position  inferior  to  that  of  those 
commissioned  by  the  crown.  The  people  of 
Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  had  been  irritated 


1757.]  INACTIVITY   OF   LOUDOUN.  131 

by  the  authority  given  to  recruiting  officers,  to 
enlist  their  indentured  servants.  Militia  com- 
panies, assembled  for  mutual  defence  against  a 
barbarous  foe,  had  been  arbitrarily  dismissed; 
while  the  intercession  of  the  Quakers  with  the 
Delawares,  to  obtain  security  for  their  hearths 
and  cradles  in  the  more  peaceful  way  of  inter- 
changing faith  and  presents,  was  condemned 
as  a  most  daring  violation  of  the  royal  pre- 
rogative. 

The  indignation  excited  by  these  measures 
was  intensely  aggravated  by  Loudoun's  attribut- 
ing the  disastrous  result  of  the  past  year's  ope- 
rations, properly  due  to  his  own  incapacity,  to 
the  colonial  troops.  Still,  in  preparing  for 
the  campaign  of  1757,  he  was  well  seconded  by 
the  colonial  assemblies,  though  not  to  the  ex- 
tent of  his  demands.  New  Jersey  would  not 
authorize  a  conscription  to  raise  her  regiment 
of  five  hundred  to  a  thousand. 

The  capture  of  Louisburg  was  to  be  the  prin- 
cipal object  of  the  campaign.  Leaving  the 
newly-raised  levies  from  New  England,  New 
York,  and  New  Jersey,  to  garrison  Forts  Ed- 
ward and  William  Henry,  Loudoun  sailed  with 
six  thousand  regulars  for  Halifax.  Arriving 
there,  he  found  himself  at  the  head  of  an  excel- 
lent army  ten  thousand  strong,  supported  by  a 
large  and  effective  fleet.  August  came,  and  the 
indecisive  chief  was  still  at  Halifax,  amusing 


132  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1757- 

himself  -with  planting  cabbages.  At  length  the 
troops  were  embarked;  but  news  arrived  that 
the  harbour  of  Louisburg  was  defended  by 
seventeen  ships  of  the  line.  Loudoun  then  sailed 
for  New  York.  His  great  preparations  had 
ended  in  nothing. 

Meantime,  his  energetic  and  wily  opponent, 
Montcalm,  was  not  idle.  Availing  himself  of 
Loudoun' s  unskilfulness  in  withdrawing  so  large 
a  portion  of  the  British  force  from  the  frontiers 
of  New  York,  he  ascended  Lake  George  with 
eight  thousand  men,  and  laid  siege  to  Fort  Wil- 
liam Henry.  In  the  fort  itself,  less  than  five 
hundred  British  regulars  were  posted  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Munro.  On  an  eminence  to 
the  south-east,  the  provincials,  including  the  un- 
fortunate New  Jersey  regiment,  were  entrenched 
to  the  number  of  seventeen  hundred  men.  On 
the  morning  of  the  fourth  of  August,  the  artil- 
lery of  the  French  opened.  For  six  days  the 
attack  was  maintained  with  daring  ardour.  But 
not  until  the  expiration  of  that  period  would  the 
gallant  Munro  capitulate,  and  then  only  because 
half  his  guns  were  burst  and  his  ammunition 
wellnigh  expended.  The  conditions  of  surren- 
der were,  that  the  English  should  be  suffered  to 
depart  with  the  honours  of  war,  on  a  pledge  not 
to  serve  against  the  French  for  eighteen  months. 
An  escort  sufficient  to  protect  them  from  Mont- 


1757.]  ALARM   OP   WEBB.  133 

calm's  barbarian  allies  was  to  attend  their  march 
to  Fort  Edward,  some  twelve  miles  distant. 

Montcalm  made  every  eflfort  to  fulfil  his  pledges. 
But  dissatisfied  with  his  clemency,  and  rendered 
furious  by  strong  drink,  the  savages  fell  upon 
the  English  as  they  filed  out  of  their  entrench- 
ments. Without  arms,  they  could  make  no  de- 
fence. Twenty,  or  thereabouts,  were  tomahawk- 
ed on  the  spot.  The  rest  fled ;  some  to  the 
wilderness,  others  to  the  French  camp.  Mont- 
calm  and  his  officers  exerted  themselves  daringly 
to  stay  the  slaughter.  "Kill  me!"  cried  the 
mortified  general ;  "  Kill  me,  but  spare  the  Eng- 
lish, who  are  under  my  protection."  In  the 
flight  to  Fort  Edward,  a  few  more  were  slain  or 
made  prisoners  by  the  savages.  Six  hundred 
reached  there  in  a  body ;  many  stragglers  fol- 
lowed ;  and  four  hundred  afterward  came  in  un- 
der a  strong  escort  of  French  troops. 

All  this  time  Webb  was  at  Fort  Edward,  with 
six  thousand  men  under  his  command,  and  a  nu- 
merous militia  within  call.  Yet  he  remained  in- 
active, not  daring  to  sally  from  his  stronghold. 
Roused  at  length  by  his  personal  fears,  he  sum- 
moned assistance.  His  call  was  answered 
promptly.  From  New  Jersey  alone  a  thousand 
militia  hastened  toward  his  camp,  while  tliree 
thousand  more  were  ready  to  march  if  it  should 
be  necessary.  But  it  was  now  too  late.  Satis- 
fied with  the  triumph  he  had  achieved,  Mont- 
is 


134  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1758. 

calm  retreated  to  Canada.  Thus  disastrously 
for  the  English  terminated  the  campaign  of 
1757. 

Meanwhile  Governor  Belcher  had  died,  worn 
out  with  years,  and  not  unregretted.  The  ex- 
ecutive duties  now  devolved  for  a  brief  period 
upon  the  president  of  the  council,  the  aged  John 
Reading. 

With  the  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1758  a 
brighter  prospect  dawned  upon  the  dejected  and 
mortified  colonists.  William  Pitt,  the  elder,  was 
now  at  the  head  of  the  British  cabinet.  Unit- 
ing the  same  energy  and  steadfastness  to  well- 
formed  aims,  that  had  elevated  him  from  a 
cornetcy  in  the  dragoons  to  his  present  lofty 
station,  he  determined  upon  overthrowing  the 
Gallic  dominion  in  North  America.  In  his  pre- 
parations he  exhibited  a  full  and  just  knowledge 
of  the  temper  and  disposition  of  the  colonists. 
The  obnoxious  Loudoun  was  recalled.  The  galled 
sense  of  honour  of  the  provincial  officers  was 
soothed  by  allowing  all,  from  the  rank  of  colonel 
downward,  an  equal  command  with  the  British. 
A  powerful  fleet  and  army  were  despatched  to 
America.  To  co-operate  with  these  forces,  the 
several  colonies  were  invited  to  raise  such  a 
number  of  levies  as  their  circumstances  would 
permit.  Arms,  ammunition,  tents,  and  provi- 
sions were  to  be  furnished  by  the  crown.  The 
provinces  were  to  pay  and  clothe  their  levies, 


1758.]   LIBERAL  SUPPORT  OF  THE  WAR.    135 

but  for  these  expenses  even,  Pitt  promised  to 
endeavour  to  procure  a  parliamentary  reim- 
bursement. 

The  effect  was  magical.  Instead  of  reluctantly 
raising  five  hundred  levies,  the  New  Jersey  as- 
sembly, offering  a  bounty  of  twelve  pounds  to 
each  recruit,  called  for  a  thousand,  and  voted 
fifty  thousand  pounds  for  their  support.  Bar- 
racks, each  capable  of  accommodating  three 
hundred  men,  were  ordered  to  be  built  at  Bur- 
lington, Trenton,  New  Brunswick,  Amboy,  and 
Elizabethtown.  Nor  was  a  less  energetic  spirit 
exhibited  by  the  other  colonies.  Nearly  thirty 
thousand  provincials  took  up  arms.  With  these 
and  the  regulars,  Abercrombie,  the  new  com- 
mander-in-chief,  found  himself  at  the  head  of 
fifty  thousand  effective  troops. 

Three  several  expeditions  were  set  in  motion; 
Abercrombie  against  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point;  Forbes  against  Duquesne  ;  and  Amherst 
and  Wolfe,  in  conjunction  with  Boscawen's  fleet, 
against  Louisburg. 

Amherst  was  the  first  to  move.  Appearing 
before  Louisburg  on  the  6th  of  June,  he  imme- 
fdiately  began  a  vigorous  siege.  After  an  ob- 
stinate defence  of  seven  weeks,  in  which  they 
suffered  severe  loss,  the  garrison,  three  thousand 
strong,  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war.  The 
whole  country  around  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
thus  fell  into  the  power  of  the  English. 


136  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1758. 

Meanwhile,  Abercrombie  had  assembled  on 
the  margin  of  Lake  George  -an  army  of  sixteen 
thousand  men,  seven  thousand  being  British 
regulars,  and  the  remainder  provincials  from 
New  England,  New  York,  and  New  Jersey. 
At  early  dawn  on  July  the  fifth,  they  embarked 
on  more  than  a  thousand  boats,  and  to  the  stir- 
ring tones  of  martial  music,  with  bright  banners 
and  gay  uniforms  gleaming  in  the  morning  sun, 
moved  swiftly  down  the  lake  to  attack  Ticonde- 
roga.  Landing  near  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  at 
nine  o'clock  the  next  day,  they  began  their 
march,  over  a  rough  road,  and  led  by  bewildered 
guides.  Some  confusion  took  place  in  the  van, 
during  which  a  scouting  party  of  the  French 
was  encountered.  The  loss  of  the  English  was 
trifling  in  point  of  numbers,  but  among  the 
slain  was  young  Lord  Howe,  the  moving  spirit 
of  the  army. 

Passing  the  night  in  the  wilderness,  Aber- 
crombie returned  to  the  landing-place,  and  took 
a  new  and  shorter  route,  which  the  energy  of 
Bradstreet,  an  active  provincial  officer,  had 
opened  to  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  French 
works.  Too  impatient  to  wait  for  his  artilleryr 
he  rashly  ordered  an  assault  on  the  front  of  the 
enemy's  line. 

Ticonderoga  was  held  by  about  thirty-four 
hundred  men,  under  the  command  of  the  watch- 
ful and  sagacious  Montcalm.  Early  informed 


1758.]  ATTACK   ON   TICONDEROGA.  137 

of  the  approach  of  the  English,  he  had  with 
wonderful  activity  wellnigh  completed  his  de- 
fences before  they  made  their  appearance.  The 
most  formidable  portion  of  his  works  was  that 
which  Abercrombie  had  determined  to  storm.  It 
consisted  of  a  breast-work  nine  feet  high,  built  of 
huge  logs,  and  guarded  in  front  by  felled  trees, 
with  their  branches  sharpened,  and  pointing 
outward  like  lances.  Behind  this  Montcalm 
posted  his  troops,  with  orders  not  to  fire  a  gun 
until  the  storming  party  should  become  entangled 
among  the  stumps  and  rubbish  of  all  sorts,  by 
which  their  advance  was  impeded. 

Having  formed  in  three  columns,  the  British 
regulars  rushed  gallantly  to  the  assault.  Com- 
manded to  reserve  their  fire  until  the  breast- 
work should  be  carried,  they  were  struggling 
over  the  encumbered  ground  in  front,  when  a 
deadly  and  incessant  discharge  broke  from  the 
French  lines.  Though  thrown  at  once  into  con- 
fusion, they  fought  bravely  and  long.  For  four 
hours  they  endeavoured  with  heroic  obstinacy, 
but  in  vain,  to  execute  the  ill-timed  and  injudi- 
cious orders  of  their  chief.  Finally,  having  lost 
over  two  thousand  in  killed  and  wounded,  they 
abandoned  the  hopeless  contest.  On  the  next 
morning  Abercrombie  conducted  a  hasty  and 
confused  retreat  to  Fort  William  Henry. 

To  balance  this  ill  fortune,  in  part  at  least, 
the  energetic  Bradstreet  presently  projected  the 
12* 


138  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1758. 

surprise  of  Frontenac,  a  fortress  on  the  Cana- 
dian shore  of  Lake  Ontario.  His  success  was 
signal.  An  immense  amount  of  valuable  stores, 
nine  armed  vessels,  and  the  command  of  the 
lake  thus  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English. 

The  destruction  of  Frontenac  contributed 
largely  to  the  success  of  the  western  expedition 
under  Forbes.  Deprived  by  that  event  of  their 
wonted  supplies,  the  garrison  at  Fort  Duquesne, 
upon  the  approach  of  the  English,  set  fire  to 
their  works  and  fled  precipitately  down  the  Ohio. 
The  charred  ruins  were  yet  smoking  when  Wash- 
ington with  the  vanguard  of  the  army  took  pos- 
session of  the  deserted  post. 

Meanwhile,  the  triumphs  of  the  campaign  had 
been  enhanced  by  the  restoration  of  peace  along 
the  western  borders.  After  several  preliminary 
conferences,  Bernard,  now  governor  of  the  pro- 
vince, aided  by  the  good  offices  of  Teedyscung, 
one  of  their  bravest  and  most  eloquent  chiefs, 
prevailed  upon  the  New  Jersey  tribes  to  attend 
"  the  grand  council-fire,  kindled  at  the  forks  of 
the  Delaware."  Here  were  met  the  representa- 
tives of  the  Iroquois  and  their  subject  tribes,  to 
treat  with  the  commissioners  of  Pennsylvania 
and  New  Jersey.  "  We  now  take  the  hatchet 
out  of  your  hands,"  said  the  red  man  solemnly 
to  the  commissioners.  "  It  was  a  French  hatch- 
et. We  take  it  out  of  your  hands  and  bury  it 
in  the  ground,  where  it  shall  rest  for  ever." 


1759.]  FURTHER   JEVY   OF   TROOPS.  139 

Many  strings  of  wampum  confirmed  the  truth  of 
their  words,  and  the  broken  chain  of  friendship 
was  re-united  with  strong  links. 

At  a  subsequent  special  conference,  the  New 
Jersey  tribes  sold  all  their  remaining  lands  to 
the  province.  The  Delawares  presently  emi- 
grated to  the  country  west  of  the  Alleghanies, 
while  the  Minnisinks,  numbering  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  souls,  authorized  the  purchase  of 
three  thousand  acres,  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
Burlington  county,  where  they  were  removed  at 
the  expense  of  the  colony.  Here,  in  possession 
of  fine  hunting  grounds  and  convenient  fisheries, 
they  remained  quietly  for  many  years,  under  the 
protection  of  special  commissioners. 

For  the  campaign  of  1759,  Pitt  planned  the 
conquest  of  Canada ;  the  young  and  gallant 
Wolfe  being  •  directed  to  advance  against  Que- 
bec, Aniherst  to  take  Ticonderdga  and  Crown 
Point,  and  then  besiege  Montreal ;  and  a  third 
army,  composed  principally  of  provincials  under 
Prideaux,  to  capture  Niagara.  Of  this  plan  the 
colonial  assemblies  were  informed  under  an  oath 
of  secrecy.  Pitt  gained  their  willing  co-opera- 
tion by  a  prompt  parliamentary  reimbursal  of 
the  last  year's  expenses.  By  spring  twenty 
thousand  provincials  were  in  the  field.  With 
less  than  fifteen  thousand  fighting  men,  New 
Jersey  raised  a  thousand  troops  in  addition  to 
the  thousand  she  had  already  lost.  Her  expen- 


140  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1759. 

ditures  for  their  support  amounted  to  almost  five 
dollars  for  every  soul  in  the  province. 

Pitt's  plan  for  the  campaign  was  but  partially 
accomplished.  Amherst,  indeed,  obtained  easy 
possession  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  but 
he  moved  with  such  dilatory  caution  that  winter 
put  an  effectual  stop  to  his  operations,  while  he 
was  yet  lingering  at  the  head  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  Prideaux  landed  successfully  before  Ni- 
agara, but  was  soon  afterward  killed  by  the 
bursting  of  a  cohorn.  Sir  William  Johnson 
succeeded  to  the  chief  command.  Twelve  hun- 
dred French  regulars,  hastening  to  relieve  the 
beleaguered  fortress,  were  signally  routed ;  and 
finally,  after  sustaining  a  siege  of  nearly  three 
weeks,  the  garrison,  six  hundred  strong,  sur- 
rendered as  prisoners  of  war.  Destitute  of 
shipping  and  short  of  provisions,  Johnson  was 
likewise  unable  to  effect  the  proposed  junction 
with  Wolfe  on  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  latter 
genera],  however,  one  of  the  best  and  bravest  in 
the  British  army,  with  the  loss  of  his  life,  gained 
an  imperishable  renown  by  winning  the  most 
important  battle  that  had  ever  been  fought  in 
the  New  World.  Sailing  from  Louisburg  with 
eight  thousand  troops,  he  landed  a  short  distance 
below  Quebec,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  June. 
Nearly  three  months  were  spent  in  unavailing 
attempts  to  baffle  the  watchfulness  of  the  alert 
Montcalm.  But  at  length,  having  secretly 


1763.]       WILLIAM   FRANKLIN   GOVERNOR.         141 

scaled  the  Heights  of  Abraham,  Wolfe  drew  up 
five  thousand  of  his  troops  in  battle  array  on  the 
plain  before  Quebec.  Montcalm  hastened  to  meet 
him,  and  a  sanguinary  battle  ensued.  Wound- 
ed twice,  Wolfe  lived  to  learn  that  the  French 
had  fled,  but  no  longer.  His  brave  opponent, 
Montcalm,  also  received  a  death-wound  in  the 
fight,  but  did  not  survive  to  witness  the  capitu- 
lation of  the  city,  an  event  which  took  place  five 
days  after  the  battle. 

With  Quebec  fell  the  power  of  France  in 
America.  In  the  following  year  Montreal  was 
surrendered  to  the  united  armies  under  Am- 
herst ;  but  peace  between  England  and  France 
was  for  a  time  deferred,  by  the  "family  com- 
pact" entered  into  by  the  latter  country  and 
Spain.  The  allied  powers,  however,  dispirited 
by  continued  defeat,  were  at  length  brought 
to  terms,  and  peace  was  finally  restored  by 
the  Treaty  of  Fontainebleau,  on  the  third  of 
November,  1763.  Nova  Scotia,  Canada  and 
its  dependencies,  together  with  the  entire  com- 
mand of  the  country  east  of  the  Mississippi, 
were  thus  secured  to  Great  Britain. 

Meantime,  Bernard  having  been  elevated 
to  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  trans- 
ferred that  of  New  Jersey  to  Thomas  Boone. 
Being  presently  sent  to  South  Carolina,  Boone 
was  succeeded  by  Josiah  Hardy.  In  1763, 
William,  the  natural  and  only  son  of  Ben- 


142  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.       „       [1763. 

jamin  Franklin,  through  the  powerful  recom- 
mendation of  Lord  Bute,  was  appointed  gover- 
nor of  New  Jersey,  Hardy  having  been  pre- 
viously nominated  as  consul  at  Cadiz. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  Franklin's 
administration,  an  extensive  conspiracy,  having 
for  its  object  the  extermination  of  the  whites,  was 
formed  by  the  Indians  of  Pennsylvania  and 
of  the  territory  north-west  of  the  Ohio.  At 
the  head  of  the  conspiracy  of  red  men  was 
Pontiac,  the  brave,  active,  and  far-seeing  chief 
of  the  Ottawas.  The  frontier  posts  were  at- 
tacked and  many  of  them  captured.  Scalping 
parties  committed  their  customary  atrocities  in 
the-  border  settlements.  On  the  approach  of 
the  marauding  parties  to  the  western  frontier 
of  New  Jersey,  Governor  Franklin  extended 
the  line  of  fortifications  and  ordered  out  the 
militia.  But  these  were  insufficient ;  the  sava- 
ges presently  breaking  through  the  line,  and 
cruelly  massacreing  a  number  of  families.  Pro- 
vision was  immediately  made  by  the  assembly 
for  the  further  protection  of  the  frontier,  and 
troops  raised  to  serve  with  the  northern  army 
against  the  Indians.  New  Jersey,  however, 
was  not  again  molested. 


1763.]  COLONIAL   EXPENDITURES.  143 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Colonial  expenditures  during  the  war — Project  to  tax  Ame- 
rica— Obnoxious  to  the  colonists — Unanimity  of  the  pro- 
vinces— Stamp  Act  proposed — Remonstrance  of  the  colo- 
nies—  Stamp  Act  passed — Spirited  resolutions  of  Virginia 
— National  Congress  recommended — Disapproved  of  by  the 
New  Jersey  house — Indignation  of  the  people  against  their 
representatives — House  again  convenes  at  Amboy — Dele- 
gates appointed  to  the  Congress — Petition  and  remonstrance 
forwarded  to  England — New  Jersey  stamp-distributor  re- 
signs— Stamp  Tax  repealed — Party  lines  drawn — Oppo- 
sition to  the  Quartering  Act — Townsend's  tax  bill  passed — 
Agitation  in  the  colonies — Language  of  the  New  Jersey 
house  —  Non-importation  agreements  —  Violated  by  New 
York  traders — Their  reception  in  New  Jersey — Repeal  of 
all  taxes  except  the  duty  on  tea — Popular  tumults  in  Mon- 
mouth  and  Essex  counties — Odious  nature  of  the  tax  on 
tea — Rendered  nugatory  by  non-importation  agreements 
— Parliament  endeavours  to  force  tea  into  America — Tea 
destroyed  at  Boston  and  in  New  Jersey — Port  of  Boston 
closed — New  Jersey  people  sympathize  with  their  Massa- 
chusetts, brethren— National  Congress  of  1774 — Battle  of 
Lexington. 

IN  the  long  contest  but  lately  terminated,  the 
t  assistance  England  had  received  from  her  colo- 
^nies  was  important.     More  than  thirteen  thou- 
sand provincials  had  perished  by  the  sword'  and 
the  diseases  of  camps ;    and  more  than  three 
millions  of  pounds  were  expended  by  the  differ- 
ent colonies.     During  nearly  the  whole  period 


144  HISTORY    OF   NEW    JERSEY.  [1763. 

of  hostilities,  New  Jersey  alone  had  maintained 
a  thousand  troops  in  the  field,  at  an  outlay 
amounting  to  over  three  hundred  thousand 
pounds.  Of  all  the  money  thus  furnished,  scarce- 
ly one-third  had  been  reimbursed  by  Parliament. 

The  promptitude  with  which  the  provinces 
had  advanced  means,  and  the  little  apparent  in- 
convenience they  suffered  from  the  large  de- 
mands made  upon  them,  created  in  the  minds  of 
the  English  ministers  an  exaggerated  opinion 
with  regard  to  the  wealth  and  resources  of  the 
colonists.  England  herself  had  expended  im- 
mense sums  in  prosecuting  the  war.  Some  por- 
tion of  this  outlay  was  properly  chargeable  to 
the  American  colonies,  and  to  them,  therefore, 
the  ministry  were  early  led  to  look  for  reim- 
bursal.  With  this  pretext  they  immediately  pre- 
pared to  execute  a  design,  conceived  indeed 
long  before,  but  which  the  necessity  of  a  good 
feeling  on  the  part  of  the  colonists  had  hitherto 
prevented  from  being  prominently  brought  for- 
ward. This  was  to  impose  upon  them  a  tax 
for  revenue,  thus  at  once  opening  a  source  of 
emolument  and  asserting  the  prerogative  of  the 
crown. 

Yet  the  execution  of  this  design  was  fraught 
with  danger,  which,  however,  but  few  foresaw. 
Individually  the  colonies  had  on  all  previous  oc- 
casions expressed  their  abhorrence  of  measures 
involving  the  principle  of  unrepresented  taxa- 


1764.]  STAMP   DUTIES   PKOPOSED.  145 

tion.  During  the  late, war,  the  clashing  inter- 
ests that  had  hitherto  divided  them  were  in  some 
degree  harmonized.  The  idea  of  union  in  a 
common  cause  had  become  familiar.  Nothing 
could  have  been  better  calculated  to  strengthen 
that  idea  than  an  undue  assertion  of  the  royal 
prerogative.  Nor  were  the  colonists  illy  pre- 
pared to  resist  that  assertion*  They  had  be- 
come accustomed  to  arms,  and  to  the  discipline 
of  the  camp  and  the  field ;  and  by  their  recent 
intercourse  with  one  another  they  had  gained 
a  knowledge,  hitherto  unknown,  of  their  mutual 
resources  and  capabilities  in  the  emergency  of 
war. 

Notwithstanding  the  quiet  yet  pertinacious  re- 
sistance of  the  colonies,  Parliament  had  in  va- 
rious ways  wielded  a  sort  of  power  over  them, 
highly  obnoxious  to  some,  and  greatly  detri- 
mental to  the  interests  of  all.  That  which  was 
the  most  odious — the  levying  of  taxes  for  reve- 
nue— though  frequently  claimed,  had  never  been 
exercised.  Urged  on  by  Grenville,  the  English 
chancellor,  Parliament  prepared  to  vindicate  its 
asserted  claim.  After  the  adoption  of  several 
offensive  measures,  the  House  of  Commons,,  in 
March,  1764,  resolved  that  "  it  might  be  proper 
to  charge  certain  stamp  duties  in  the  colonies." 
In  accordance  with  this  resolve  a  bill  was  coun- 
selled, imposing  a  duty  on  stamps,  by  which  va- 
rious legal  and  other  papers,  to  be  valid  in  courts 

13 


146  HISTORY   OF    XEAV   JERSEY.  [1765. 

of  law,  were  to  be  drawn  up  on  stamped  paper, 
sold  by  public  officers  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  at  prices  which  levied  a  stated  tax.  on 
every  such  document. 

In  America  every  effort  was  exerted  to  pre- 
vent the  passage  of  this  proposed  act ;  but  re- 
monstrances, petitions,  and  denunciations  were 
equally  unavailing.  On  the  twenty-second  of 
March,  1765,  it  was  passed  with  slight  opposi- 
tion by  the  Commons,  and  by  the  Lords  without  a 
division.  At  the  same  time  an  act  called  the 
Quartering  Act  was  passed,  authorizing  the  mi- 
nistry to  maintain  a  standing  army  in  America, 
the  several  provincial  assemblies  being  directed 
to  supply  the  troops  with  quarters,  fuel,  lights, 
drink,  soap  and  bedding. 

On  receiving  intelligence  of  the  passage  of 
these  acts,  the  colonies  became  agitated  by  the 
keenest  indignation.  With  singular  unanimity 
they  took  bold  and  determined  steps  to  prevent 
their  effective  operation.  Virginia  was  the  first 
to  move.  By  the  house  of  burgesses  of  that 
province  resolutions  were  adopted,  reciting  in 
the  most  spirited  language  the  rights  and  griev- 
ances of  the  colonists.  Massachusetts  followed, 
and  recommended  a  National  Congress,  to  meet 
at  New  York  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  October. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  June  this  recom- 
mendation was  laid  before  the  New  Jersey  as- 
sembly. Few  in  number,  on  the  point  of  ad- 


1765.]      DELEGATES  TO  CONGRESS.      14T 

journment,  and  influenced  probably  by  Franklin, 
who  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  prerogative, 
the  house  paid  but  little  attention  to  it,  and 
somewhat  hastily  signified  their  disapproval  of 
the  proposed  convention.  Their  conduct,  how- 
ever, was  keenly  censured.  So  strong  was  the 
popular  indignation,  that  Ogden,  their  speaker, 
found  it  necessary,  in  order  to  preserve  the  peace 
of  the  province,  to  convene  the  members,  by 
circular,  at  Amboy.  In  defiance  of  Franklin's 
denunciation  of  their  proceedings  as  "  unprece- 
dented, irregular,  and  unconstitutional,"  they 
accordingly  met  and  appointed  Joseph  Ogden, 
Hendrick  Fisher,  and  Joseph  Borden  to  be  de- 
legates to  the  National  Congress. 

At  the  time  and  place  appointed,  delegates 
from  nine  provinces  assembled,  and  presently 
adopted  a  declaration  of  rights,  in  which  it  was 
forcibly  contended  that  the  colonies  could  not  be 
taxed  unless  by  their  own  consent.  Eloquent 
memorials  to  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  a 
petition  to  the  king,  spirited  but  respectful,  were 
next  agreed  to  and  signed  by  most  of  the  dele- 
gates present.  To  these,  however,  Ogden  of 
New  Jersey,  and  Ruggles  of  Massachusetts,  re- 
fused to  attach  their  signatures,  on  the  ground 
that  the  approval  of  the  several  assemblies  was 
first  necessary.  Ogden's  conduct  was  severely 
censured  at  home.  He  was  burned  in  effigy  by 


148  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1765. 

the  people,  and  finally  forced  to  resign  his  place 
as  speaker  of  the  house. 

The   proceedings   of  the   National  Congress 

were  approved  without  a  dissenting  voice,  by  the 

assembly  of  New  Jersey,  which  met  early  in  the 

following  month.     Reiterating   the    sentiments 

adopted  in  the  convention,  the  house  protested 

strongly  against  the  late  Act  of  Parliament  as 

utterly  subversive  of  their   ancient  privileges. 

,  For  this  they  were  sharply  reprehended  by  the 

/  governor,  and  immediately  prorogued. 

Meanwhile  steps  of  a  less  legitimate  character 
-had  been  taken  to  resist  the  operation  of  the 
Stamp  Act.  Associations  designed  to  unite  the 
people  in  forcible  opposition  to  it,  springing  up 
in  New  York  and  Connecticut,  and  calling  them- 
selves the  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  had  extended 
rapidly  into  the  adjoining  colonies.  Riots  be- 
came frequent  and  alarming.  Many  of  the  stamp- 
officers  were  frightened  into  resignation.  Others, 
among  whom  was  Coxe  of  New  Jersey,  volun- 
tarily threw  up  their  commissions.  And  when, 
on  the  first  of  November,  the  act  went  into  ope- 
ration, neither  stamps  nor  stamp-officers  could 
be  found.  The  obnoxious  measure  was  in  effect 
nullified. 

A  change  having  meanwhile  taken  place  in 
the  British  ministry,  the  colonists  were  encourag- 
ed to  maintain  their  bold  and  determined  stand. 
Besides,  their  agreement  to  import  no  more 


1766.]  DISTINCTION   OF   PARTIES.  149 

British  goods  until  the  Stamp  Act  should  be  re- 
pealed, began  to  be  felt  seriously  by  the  trading 
interest  of  England,  which  was  thus  led  to  fa- 
vour their  cause.  The  eloquence  and  zeal  of 
Pitt  were  also  exerted  in  their  behalf.  Finally, 
with  a  show  of  liberality,  but  in  reality  as  a 
matter  of  expediency,  the  new  ministry  procured 
the  repeal  of  the  odious  act,  in  March,  1766. 
But  in  order  to  soothe  the  irritation  of  its  friends, 
a  bill  was  previously  passed,  asserting  the  power 
and  right  of  Parliament  "to  bind  the  colonies  in 
all  cases  whatsoever."  This,  however,  was  dis- 
regarded by  the  colonists  in  the  joy  they  expe- 
rienced at  their  signal  victory. 

To  the  New  Jersey  assembly,  which  presently 
met,  Governor  Franklin  offered  his  congratula- 
tion on  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act.  This 
elicited  a  cutting  reply.  Franklin's  strenuous 
efforts  to  prevent  that  desirable  event  were  not 
forgotten.  Still  the  assembly  were  willing  to 
be  grateful  to  the  king  and  to  Parliament  for 
having  relieved  them  from  the  burden  of  an 
"impolitic  law." 

While  with  the  mass  of  the  colonists  satisfac- 
tion was  the  prominent  feeling,  there  were  not 
wanting  occasions  for  angry  discussion  in  regard 
to  the  respective  rights  of  the  crown  and  the 
colonial  assemblies.  Party  lines  began  to  be 
strongly  drawn ;  such  as  advocated  the  royal 
prerogative  being  known  as  Tories,  while  the  op- 

13*  • 


150  HISTOKY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1767. 

ponents  of  parliamentary  taxation  received  the 
name  of  Whigs. 

Among  other  causes  for  the  discontent  which 
soon  manifested  itself  was  the  enforcing  of  the 
Quartering  Act.  Partially  complied  with  in 
Massachusetts,  in  New  York  it  was  wholly  dis- 
regarded. In  New  Jersey  a  full  compliance 
with  its  provisions  was  refused  hy  the  house, 
who  declared  that  they  considered  it  as  much  an 
act  for  levying  taxes  as  the  one  recently  repealed. 

Rockingham's  ministry  was  speedily  overturn- 
ed. With  the  formation  of  the  new  cabinet  the 
aspect  of  colonial  affairs  became  still  more  cloud- 
ed. Charles  Townsend,  a  man  of  brilliant  ta- 
lents, but  with  no  fixed  principle  of  action,  oc- 
cupied the  post  of  chancellor  of  the  exchequer. 
Exasperated  by  the  taunts  of  Grenville,  he  rashly 
declared  in  the  House  of  Commons  that  he  dared 
to  tax  America,  and  forthwith  introduced  a  new 
scheme  for  drawing  a  revenue  from  the  colonies, 
by  a  bill  imposing  custom-house  taxation  on 
glass,  paper,  paints,  and  tea.  With  scarcely  a 
show  of  opposition,  the  bill  was  carried  through 
Parliament,  in  June,  1767. 

Justly  viewing  this  measure  as  identical  in 
principle  with  the  Stamp  Act,  the  colonists  at 
once  began  to  agitate  against  it ;  pouring  in 
upon  the  ministry  a  continuous  stream  of  peti- 
tions and  remonstrances,  and  by  essays  and  le- 
gislative resolves  expressing  the  deep  conviction 


1767.]      NON-IMPORTATION   AGREEMENTS.          151 

that  their  liberties  had  been  invaded.  Though 
couched  in  less  fiery  language  than  on  the  pre- 
vious occasion,  these  documents  were  character- 
ized by  logical  acumen,  a  clear  sense  of  the  rights 
of  the  colonies,  and  a  calm  but  fixed  determina- 
tion to  resist  all  and  every  attempt  at  parlia- 
mentary taxation. 

"  Freemen  cannot  be  taxed  but  by  themselves 
or  by  their  representatives,"  was  the  declaration 
of  the  New  Jersey  house  of  assembly  to  the 
king.  "  This  privilege  we  esteem  so  invaluable 
that  we  are  fully  persuaded  no  other  can  exist 
without  it.  Duties  have  lately  been  imposed 
upon  us  for  the  sole  and  express  purpose  of 
raising  a  revenue.  Yet,  that  we  are  represented 
in  Parliament  we  not  only  cannot  allow,  but  are 
convinced  from  our  local  circumstances  we  never 
can  be." 

More  effective  steps  were  presently  taken. 
The  former  non-importation  agreements  were  re- 
newed. As  the  direct  imports  of  New  Jersey 
were  light,  she  could  do  little  in  the  matter  but 
encourage  her  commercial  neighbours.  At  one 
time  a  few  of  the  New  York  traders  were  in- 
duced to  violate  their  voluntary  pledges.  Some 
of  these  persons  soon  after  visiting  New  Bruns- 
wick and  Woodbridge  to  dispose  of  their  goods, 
the  indignant  populace  fell  upon  them  and  drove 
them  with  violence  from  their  respective  towns. 
At  other  places  public"  meetings  were  held,  at 


152  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1770. 

which  the  recusants  were  held  up  to  the  scorn 
of  all  true  friends  of  liberty,  and  bitterly  de- 
nounced as  foul  traitors  to  their  country. 

At  length,  as  on  the  previous  occasion,  the 
manufacturers  and  traders  of  England  began  to 
suffer.  In  their  troubles  they  pressed  the  repeal 
of  Townsend's  obnoxious  bill.  As  it  had  been 
almost  impossible  to  enforce  that  act,  nothing 
scarcely  in  the  shape  of  revenue  had  accrued 
from  it,  while  every  day  the  indignation  of  the 
colonists  was  growing  in  strength  and  storminess. 
Consequently,  and  moved  rather  by  their  fears 
than  by  a  sense  of  justice,  the  ministry  procured 
the  repeal  of  the  Revenue  Act,  in  April,  1770, 
reserving,  however,  a  trifling  duty  on  the  single 
article  of  tea. 

Meanwhile  local  difficulties  had  sprung  up  in 
New  Jersey,  which  at  length  led  to  alarming 
disturbances.  The  appearance  of  extraordinary 
prosperity  occasioned  by  the  late  war,  had  been 
followed  by  a  period  of  great  and  general  dis- 
tress. Bankruptcies  and  suits-at-law  became 
numerous.  Debtors  were  unable  to  settle  their 
accounts,  while  the  creditor  bold  enough  to  pro- 
secute, together  with  his  attorney,  was  subjected 
to  the  ill-will  of  the  debtor  and  his  exasperated 
friends.  Finally  the  lawyers  became  particu- 
larly obnoxious.  Charging  the  whole  legal  fra- 
ternity with  being  a  band  of  extortioners,  the 
people  of  Monmouth  county,  in  January,  1770, 


1770.]  POLITICAL   CALM.  153 

assembled  at  Freehold,  where  the  court  was  then 
holding  its  session,  tumultuously  entered  the 
court-house,  drove  the  judges  from  their  benches, 
and  thus  put  a  stop  to  further  judicial  proceed- 
ings. An  attempt  at  a  similar  design  in  Essex 
county  was  frustrated  by  the  vigilance  of  the 
public  officers,  assisted  by  the  well-disposed  citi- 
zens. To  meet  this  crisis,  a  special  meeting  of 
the  assembly  was  called.  By  the  adoption  of 
judicious  measures,  quiet  was  at  length  restored, 
though  not  until  the  passage  of  a  law  against 
excessive  costs  in  the  recovery  of  debts  under 
fifty  pounds. 

For  nearly  four  years  after  the  partial  abro- 
gation of  the  Revenue  Act,  nothing  of  marked 
historical  importance  occurred  in  New  Jersey. 
There,  as  in  most  of  the  other  colonies,  the  pe- 
riod was  one  of  political  calm.  But  Parliament, 
by  retaining  the  duty  on  tea,  seemed  to  have  es- 
tablished by  precedent  the  right  to  tax  Ame- 
rica. As  it  was  the  assertion  of  this  right  alone 
that  had  provoked  the  resistance  of  the  colonists, 
the  continuance  of  the  tea-duty  was  a  measure 
as  insulting  as  it  was  weak.  Pecuniarily  insig- 
nificant, it  was  momentous  in  a  political  point 
of  view.  Yet,  for  a  time,  the  colonists  were 
content  with  a  mere  modification  of  their  non- 
importation agreements  so  as  to  include  tea 
only.  By  this  means  the  tax  on  tea,  as  an  as- 


154  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1770. 

sertion  of  parliamentary  right,  was  rendered 
almost  unavailing. 

Parliament  at  length  determined  upon  a  new 
attempt  to  draw  a  revenue  from  America  by 
means  of  the  reserved  duty  on  tea.  The  colo- 
nists having  steadily  refused  to  import,  seventeen 
millions  of  pounds  of  the  obnoxious  commodity 
had  collected  in  the  East  India  Company's  ware- 
houses. To  force  a  large  quantity  of  this  into 
the  provinces  might  at  once  relieve  the  company 
from  its  embarrassment,  and  bring  about  the 
ministerial  ends.  Removing  the  export  duty, 
and  relieving  the  company  of  certain  existing 
restraints,  arrangements  were  made  for  shipping 
several  cargoes  of  tea  to  the  chief  ports  of  Ame- 
rica, where  it  was  expected  it  would  be  received 
willingly,  and  readily  purchased,  now  that  the 
duty  was  only  a  nominal  one. 

But  the  colonists  were  vigilant.  From  New 
Hampshire  to  Georgia  the  cry  of  imperilled  free- 
dom was  again  heard.  Immediate  steps  were 
taken  to  avert  the  danger  that  so  insidiously 
presented  itself.  In  some  places  the  tea  was 
permitted  to  be  landed  and  stored,  but  not  to  be 
sold.  At  Boston,  when  the  tea-ships  arrived, 
they  were  boarded  by  a  party  disguised  as  In- 
dians, and  their  cargoes  casts  into  the  sea.  As 
the  vessels  were  approaching  New  York  and 
Philadelphia,  they  were  stopped  and  compelled 
to  return  home.  At  Annapolis,  the  owner  was 


1774.]     SYMPATHY   WITH    MASSACHUSETTS.       155 

forced  to  set  fire  to  the  vessel  containing  the 
tea.  The  cargo  of  a  ship  landed  and  stored  at 
Greenwich,  New  Jersey,  late  in  1774,  was  seized 
upon  by  the  populace,  and  publicly  burned  to 
ashes. 

This  bold  overthrow  of  their  plans  goaded  the 
ministry  wellnigh  to  fury.  Upon  Massachusetts 
fell  the  heaviest  stroke  of  their  indignation. 
Stringent  acts  were  hurried  through  Parliament, 
directed  especially  'against  the  people  of  that 
province.  Among  others,  bills  to  shut  the  port 
of  Boston,  and  to  subvert,  in  effect,  the  charter 
of  the  colony.  The  tidings  speedily  reached 
America.  Sympathizing  with  Massachusetts, 
the  colonies  at  once  rose  in  her  behalf.  With 
their  commerce  annihilated  by  the  Port  Bill,  the 
people  of  Boston  soon  stood  in  need  of  assist- 
ance. Contributions  flowed  into  them  from  all 
parts  of  the  country,  and  from  no  province  more 
freely  than  from  New  Jersey.  Forwarding  their 
first  "present,"  the  inhabitants  of  Monmouth 
exhorted  their  Boston  brethren  "not  to  give  up, 
and  if  they  should  want  a  further  supply  of 
bread  to  let  them  know."  The  people  of  Eliza- 
bethtown  were  equally  liberal,  and  from  Salem 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  were  sent  to  "  the 
distressed  and  suffering  poor  of  Boston." 

Matters  were  now  approaching  a  crisis.  Tho- 
roughly aroused  by  the  recent  action  of  the  mi- 
nistry and  of  Parliament,  the  colonists  prepared 


156  HISTORY   OF   XEW   JERSEY.  [1775. 

for  active  and  determined  resistance.  A  nation- 
al Congress  was  recommended,  to  be  composed 
of  delegates  from  the  several  provinces.  This 
recommendation  met  a  hearty  response  from  all 
sides.  On  the  fifth  of  September,  1774,  dele- 
gates from  twelve  colonies  convened  at  Philadel- 
phia, and,  after  a  long  and  anxious  session,  adopt- 
ed a  petition  to  the  king,  a  declaration  of  rights, 
a  memorial  to  the  people  of  England,  and  an 
address  to  the  inhabitants  of  Canada. 

The  proceedings  of  this  Congress  were  laid 
before  the  New  Jersey  assembly,  on  the  24th  of 
January,  1775.  Notwithstanding  the  strenuous 
endeavours  of  Governor  Franklin  to  prevent  it, 
the  house  approved  of  the  report  unanimously, 
save  that  the  Quaker  members  excepted  to  such 
portions  as  seemed  to  look  toward  forcible  re- 
sistance. 

From  this  period  the  aspect  of  affairs  continued 
to  grow  more  and  more  troubled ;  and  at  length 
by  the  battle  of  Lexington,  on  the  19th  of  April, 
the  War  of  Independence  was  fairly  opened. 
Little  hope  was  now  left  of  a  peaceful  adjust- 
ment of  the  difficulties  existing  between  the  colo- 
nies and  the  mother  country. 


1775.]        ACTIVITY   OF   THE    PROVINCIALS.        157 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Affair  of  Lexington — Military  activity  of  the  provincials — Pro- 
ceedings of  Congress — Ticonderoga  surprised  by  Ethan  Allen 
— Lord  North's  conciliatory  plan  rejected  by  New  Jersey- 
Organization  of  the  militia — Battle  of  Bunker  Hill — Evacu- 
ation of  Boston  by  the  British — Declaration  of  Independence 
— State  of  New  Jersey  formed — Livingston  elected  governor 
— New  York  menaced  by  Howe — Activity  of  Washington 
— Battle  of  Long  Island — New  York  evacuated  by  the  Ame- 
ricans— Capture  of  Fort  Washington  by  the  British — Re- 
treat of  Washington  across  the  Jerseys — Condition  of  his 
troops — Meeting  of  the  first  state  legislature — The  Ameri- 
can army  crosses  the  Delaware — Capture  of  General  Lee — 
Surprise  of  the  Hessians  at  Trenton. 

THE  affair  at  Lexington  kindled  a  spirit  of  re- 
solute resistance  throughout  the  country.  In 
New  England  especially,  extraordinary  zeal  was 
displayed  by  the  provincials.  Within  two  days 
after  the  fight  an  irregular  volunteer  force  of 
twenty  thousand  men  had  beleaguered  Boston. 
In  the  middle  and  southern  colonies  a  spirit 
scarcely  less  active  and  prompt  was  displayed, 
and  every  thing  betokened  that  an  earnest  and 
determined  struggle  was  at  hand. 

To   the  Continental  Congress,  which  met  in 

May,  public   attention  was  anxiously  directed. 

Declaring  that  hostilities  were  already  begun  by 

Great  Britain,  they  prepared  to  put  the  colonies 

14       ' 


158  HISTORY   OF    NEW   JERSEY.  [1775. 

in  a  posture  of  defence.  As  no  general  idea 
was  yet  entertained  of  independence,  a  firm  but 
respectful  petition  to  the  king  was  resolved  upon, 
while  memorials  were  addressed  to  the  people  of 
England,  Ireland,  and  Quebec  ;  in  which,  boldly 
stating  the  rights  of  the  colonies,  Congress 
spiritedly  vindicated  its  former  course  and  its 
present  designs. 

While  the  National  Congress  was  thus  engaged, 
a  party  of  provincials,  led  by  Ethan  Allen  and 
Seth  Warner,  had  captured  the  fortresses  of  Ti- 
conderoga  and  Crown  Point.  Artillery,  and  a 
large  amount  of  ammunition  and  military 
stores  thus  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  needy 
colonists. 

Five  days  afterward,  on  the  15th  of  May,  the 
New  Jersey  assembly,  at  the  call  of  Franklin, 
convened  to  consider  the  specious  but  unconces- 
sive  "  conciliatory  plan"  of  Lord  North.  Though 
recommended  earnestly  by  the  governor  in  an 
elaborate  address,  the  house  firmly  and  solemnly 
declined  assenting  to  the  proposition.  Finding 
them  immovable,  Franklin  ordered  an  adjourn- 
ment. Subsequently  a  few  days,  a  Provincial 
Congress  convened  at  Trenton,  and  agreed  upon 
an  association  for  the  defence  of  colonial  rights 
against  the  aggression  of  the  British  ministry. 
Declining  to  authorize  a  levy  of  regular  troops 
until  some  general  plan  should  be  formed,  they 
adopted  measures  for  organizing  the  militia,  and 


1775.]  REGULARS    ENLISTED.  159 

ordered  the  issue  of  ten  thousand  pounds  in  bills 
of  credit,  to  defray  expenses. 

At  length  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  on  the 
17th  of  June,  wellnigh  brought  all  hope  of  re- 
conciliation to  an  end.  In  the  mean  time,  the 
National  Congress  had  made  arrangements  for  a 
continental  army,  at  the  head  of  which  was 
George  Washington  of  Virginia.  Washington 
presently  took  command  of  the  provincials  in- 
vesting Boston.  While  he  was  busied  in  organ- 
izing these  brave  but  untrained  troops,  Congress 
engaged  itself  in  providing  for  their  support, 
pay,  and  government. 

On  the  fifth  of  August  the  Provincial  Congress 
of  New  Jersey  again  met,  and  made  further  pro- 
vision for  organizing  the  militia,  to  command 
which  they  appointed  Philemon  Dickinson  and 
William  Livingston,  both  persons  already  cele- 
brated for  their  patriotism.  Having  chosen  a 
provincial  treasurer  and  a  committee  of  safety, 
the  congress  adjourned.  Meeting  again  on  the 
third  of  October,  they  ordered  the  enlistment  of 
two  regiments,  of  regulars,  the  command  of  one 
of  which  was  given  to  William  Maxwell,  and  of 
the  other  to  William  Alexander,  commonly  called 
Lord  Stirling.  Thirty  thousand  pounds  were 
issued  in  provincial  bills,  to  defray  the  expenses 
thus  incurred. 

Meanwhile  Franklin  had  been  active  in  his 
opposition.  Convening  the  general  assembly  on 


160  HISTORY   OF    NEW   JERSEY.  [1776. 

the  sixteenth  of  November,  he  complained  to 
the  members  that  "  sentiments  of  independence 
had  been  openly  avowed,  and  that  essays  had 
appeared,  ridiculing  the  people's  fears  of  that 
horrid  measure."  In  reply,  the  house  declare^ 
that  they  knew  "of  no  sentiments  of  indepen- 
dency openly  avowed,"  and  that  they  "approved 
of  no  essays  tending  to  such  a  measure."  They 
remained  in  session,  transacting  their  ordinary 
business,  until  the  6th  of  December,  when  they 
were  prorogued  for  a  brief  period.  But  they 
never  again  met. 

To  meet  a  requisition  for  additional  troops, 
the  Provincial  Congress  assembled  at  New 
Brunswick,  on  the  31st  of  January,  1776.  An 
attack  upon  the  colonies  through  Canada  having 
been  planned  by  England,  the  Continental  Con- 
gress determined  to  thwart  it  by  a  counter- 
movement.  In  this  exigency,  New  Jersey  order- 
ed the  enlistment  of  another  regiment,  and  made 
a  further  appropriation  of  twenty  thousand 
pounds. 

Meanwhile  Washington  had  maintained  a  close 
investment  of  the  British  in  Boston.      Wearied, 
out  at  length,  they  evacuated  the  city  in  March, 
when  the  triumphant  provincials  took  immediate 
and  joyful  possession. 

For  nearly  a  year  the  colonists  had  been  in 
arms  against  the  mother  country.  Entire  inde- 
pendence, however,  had  not  as  yet  been  asserted. 


1776.1      LIVINGSTON   ELECTED    GOVERNOR.       161 



But  on  the  seventh  of  June,  it  was  at  length 
moved  in  the  National  Congress,  "that  the  United 
Colonies  are,  and  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pedent  states ;  and  that  their  political  connec- 
tion with  Great  Britain  is,  and  ought  to  be,  dis- 
solved." The  resolution  passed  by  a  small  ma- 
jority. The  delegates  from  New  Jersey  had 
been  expressly  instructed  against  it.  Presently, 
however,  a  new  set  was  chosen,  with  directions 
to  cast  their  suffrages  for  independence.  On 
the  fourth  of  July  following,  a  formal  declaration 
to  that  effect  was  adopted  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  signed  by  most  of  the  members 
present. 

Already  the  Congress  of  New  Jersey  had  pre- 
pared and  adopted  a  new  and  independent  con- 
stitution ;  and,  having  presently  agreed  to  the 
national  declaration,  they  assumed  the  style  and 
title  of  the  "Convention  of  the  State  of  New 
Jersey."  On  the  31st  of  August  following, 
William  Livingston,  commander-in-chief  of  the 
militia,  was  elected  the  first  governoB  of  the 
state  —  Franklin,  the  old  colonial  executive, 
having  been  made  prisoner  some  time  previously 
for  corresponding  with  the  enemy.  Removed  to 
Connecticut,  Franklin  was  there  kept  in  close 
confinement  until  the  end  of  the  war,  when  he 
sailed,  a  voluntary  exile  from  the  country  of  his 
birth,  to  England. 

Meanwhile  the  arms  of  the  provincials  had 
14* 


162  HISTORY   OF   "SEW   JERSEY.  [1776. 

met  "with  a  series  of  disasters.  The  campaign 
against  Canada,  which  opened  with  the  most 
brilliant  prospect  of  success,  had  terminated  in 
the  precipitate  retreat  of  the  American  forces 
to  Crown  Point,  and  subsequently  to  Ticonde- 
roga. 

Early  in  July,  General  Howe,  with  the  late 
garrison  of  Boston,  and  other  troops  from  Hali- 
fax, landed  on  Staten  Island,  from  which  he 
threatened  an-  attack  on  the  city  of  New  York. 
Calling  upon  New  York  and  New  Jersey  for 
troops,  Washington  immediately  hastened  to  de- 
fend the  beleaguered  city.  In  a  month's  time,  by 
dint  of  extraordinary  exertions,  he  was  enabled 
to  swell  his  army  to  about  twenty  thousand 
sickly,  ill-equipped,  and  half-trained  soldiers. 
His  opponent,  meanwhile,  had  received  numerous 
reinforcements,  raising  his  force  to  nearly  twen- 
ty-four thousand  of  the  best  troops  in  the  British 
service. 

At  length  Howe  began  to  move.  Advancing 
cautiously  by  the  way  of  Long  Island,  he  suc- 
ceeded, after  subjecting  the  Americans  to  a  dis- 
astrous defeat,  in  encamping  in  front  of  their 
lines  at  Brooklyn,  on  the  night  of  the  27th  of 
August.  Washington  presently  retreated  across 
the  East  River.  Howe  followed  on  the  13th  of 
September,  and  landed  three  miles  above  New 
York,  putting  to  dastardly  flight  the  provincials 
stationed  to  oppose  him.  The  city  was  mime- 


1776.]  KETREAT   OF   THE   ARMY.  163 

diately  abandoned  by  the  Americans,  and  the 
British  took  possession. 

Washington  intrenched  himself  on  Harlem 
Heights.  After  a  series  of  cautious  movements 
on  the  part  of  both  generals,  Howe  seemed  to 
threaten  New  Jersey,  when  the  main  body 
of  the  Continental  army  crossed  to  the  west 
bank  of  the  Hudson,  under  the  immediate 
direction  of  Washington  himself.  On  the  16th 
of  November,  Fort  Washington,  with  its  nume- 
rous garrison  and  immense  stores,  fell  into  the 
enemy's  hands.  Fort  Lee,  on  the  Jersey  shore 
of  the  Hudson,  was  hastily  evacuated  by  the 
Americans.  Washington,  whose  army  was  now 
reduced  to  four  thousand  men,  took  ground  on 
a  level  plain  between  the  Hackensack  and 
Passaic,  but  a  superior  British  force  under 
Cornwallis  advancing  against  him,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  commence  a  rapid  retreat  across  the 
Jerseys. 

This  retreat  was  accompanied  by  almost  every 
circumstance  that  could  harass  and  depress  the 
spirits.  The  severity  of  winter  had  already  set 
in.  Depressed  by  a  succession  of  disasters,  the 
little  army  of  Americans  moved  wearily  on,  illy 
clad,  without  tents,  and  with  scarcely  a  blanket 
to  protect  them  from  the  rigor  of  the  season. 
Pressing  them  closely  was  the  force  of  Cornwal- 
lis, flushed  with  previous  good  fortune,  wanting 
none  of  the  necessaries  of  camp,  and  dazzling 


164  HISTORY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1776. 

by  the  brilliancy  of  their  equipments.  It  is 
scarcely  to  be  wondered,  then,  that  the  militia 
of  New  Jersey,  upon  contrasting  the  different 
appearance  of  the  two  armies,  exhibited  a  re- 
luctance to  take  the  field,  though  every  exertion 
was  made  by  their  new  and  popular  governor  to 
induce  them  to  rally  in  defence  of  their  country 
and  its  liberties. 

The  first  legislature  under  the  lately-formed 
Constitution  was  still  in  session  at  Princeton, 
when  the  flying  Americans  made  their  appear- 
ance. They  immediately  broke  up,  to  assemble 
again  at  Burlington ;  but  the  tide  of  war  advanc- 
ing upon  them  there,  they  retired  to  Pittstown, 
and  finally  to  Haddonfield,  where  they  presently 
dissolved.  / 

Washington  having  reached  Trenton,  was  there 
reinforced  by  fifteen  hundred  Philadelphians. 
Finding  Cornwallis  pause  at  Brunswick,  he  de- 
tached twelve  hundred  men  to  Princeton,  in  the 
hope  of  checking  the  British  advance.  But 
the  English  general  pressed  on  with  a  superior 
force,  and  no  alternative  was  left  but  to  fight  or 
to  cross  the  Delaware.  An  engagement  was  not 
to  be  thought  of ;  the  latter  course  was  accord- 
ingly adopted.  As  the  American  rear-guard 
pushed  from  the  Jersey  shore,  the  ran  of  the 
British  came  in  sight.  Washington  having  taken 
the  precaution  to  secure  all  the  boats  on  the 
Delaware,  Cornwallis  was  unable  to  pursue  the 


1776.]  CAPTURE    OF   LEE.  "        165 

retreating  Americans ;  upon  which  he  deter- 
mined to  close  the  campaign,  and  go  into  winter 
quarters,  occupying  various  points  above  and 
below  Trenton.  Washington  rested  on  the 
western  bank  of  the  river,  keeping  a  vigilant 
watch  over  the  fords  by  which  the  enemy  might 
be  expected  to  cross. 

The  American  general  was  in  the  mean  time 
strenuously  endeavouring  to  augment  his  force. 
During  his  hasty  and  anxious  retreat,  he  had 
repeatedly  ordered  Lee  to  pass  the  Hudson 
and  unite  with  the  main  army ;  but  apparently 
anxious  to  retain  his  separate  command,  that 
ambitious  officer  had  tardily  obeyed.  Oppos- 
ing the  judgment  of  Washington,  he  proposed 
to  take  stand  at  Morristown.  Ordered  again 
to  march,  he  moved  reluctantly  toward  the 
Delaware,  by  a  road  some  twenty  miles  west 
of  that  pursued  by  the  British.  Having  in- 
discreetly quartered  at  a  distance  from  his 
troops,  information  was  given  by  a  countryman 
to  Colonel  Harcourt,  who,  with  a  body  of  British 
cavalry,  formed  and  executed  the  design  of 
making  him  prisoner.  Unaware  of  the  enemy's 
approach,  and  protected  by  but  a  slight  guard, 
Lee  was  easily  captured.  Lee's  services  had 
been  estimated  highly,  and  the  misfortune  of  his 
capture  cast  a  deeper  shade  upon  the  despond- 
ency of  the  Americans. 

The  cause  of  American  independence  seemed 


166  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1776. 

now  to  be  utterly  hopeless.  The  little  army 
under  Washington  could  with  difficulty  be  held 
together.  But  the  American  general  was  watch- 
ful of  every  opportunity.  In  the  dispersed  situa- 
tion of  the  British  troops,  he  quickly  perceived 
an  exposure  to  successful  attack,  and  formed 
a  plan  to  assail,  simultaneously,  the  posts  along 
the  Delaware.  About  fifteen  hundred  Hessians 
were  stationed  at  Trenton.  The  capture  or  de- 
struction of  these  was  the  chief  object  of  the 
American  commander's  daring  design.  The 
night  of  the  twenty-fifth  of  December  was  fixed 
upon  for  the  movement.  Washington  proposed 
to  recross  the  Delaware  about  nine  miles  above 
Trenton,  with  two  thousand  five  hundred  troops, 
and  march  down  in  two  divisions,  one  by  the 
river,  and  the  other  by  the  Pennington  road. 
General  Irvine  was  to  cross  at  the  Trenton 
ferry  and  secure  the  bridge  below  the  town, 
while  General  Cadwallader  was  to  pass  at  Dunk's 
Ferry,  and  surprise  the  enemy's  posts  at  Mount 
Holly. 

The  night  of  the  twenty-fifth  of  December 
was  cold  in  the  extreme.  The  river  was  fill- 
ed with  floating  ice;  and  snow,  rain,  and  hail 
were  falling  heavily.  It  was  nearly  three 
o'clock  before  Washington  reached  the  Jersey 
shore.  The  two  columns  took  up  their  respect- 
ive lines  of  march,  and  at  about  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  drove  in  the  outposts  of  the 


1776.]  TRIUMPH   AT   TKENTON.  167 

surprised  and  startled  enemy.  Rallied  by 
their  commander,  they  made  a  brief  but  inef- 
fectual resistance.  So  vigorously  did  both 
American  divisions  press  forward,  thaijt  the  Hes- 
sians could  only  look  around  for  the  safest  road 
to  retreat.  The  light-horse  and  a  portion  of 
the  infantry  succeeded  in  escaping  by  the 
Bordentown  road.  The  main  body  fled  along 
the  road  to  Princeton,  but  were  checked  by  a 
regiment  of  Pennsylvania  riflemen.  Their  six 
field-pieces  had  been  captured  early  in  the 
action,  and  now,  surrounded  and  dispirited  by 
the  sudden  attack,  one  thousand  Hessians  laid 
down  their  arms  and  became  prisoners  of  war. 

In  securing  this  brilliant  and  unexpected  tri- 
umph, the  Americans  had  lost  but  two  privates 
killed,  two  frozen  to  death,  and  one  officer 
and  three  or  four  privates  wounded.  Of  the 
enemy,  about  twenty  were  left  dead  upon  the 
field,  among  these  was  Colonel  Rawle,  their 
commander. 

But  the  plan  of  Washington  was  not  wholly 
successful.  Generals  Irvine  and  Cadwallader 
were  unable  to  cross  the  river  in  consequence 
of  the  quantity  of  ice.  Thus  the  road  to 
Bordentown  was  left  open,  and  the  post  at 
Mount  Holly  escaped  attack.  Nevertheless,  the 
success  of  "Washington  was  of  itself  sufficient  to 
cheer  the  hearts  of  the  Americans.  Its  mate- 
rial results  were  considerable,  but  its  moral 


168  HISTORY  OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1777. 

effect,  both  upon  the  British  and  the  colonists) 
was  astonishing.  The  British  were  suddenly 
shown  that  their  task  was  not  so  nearly  complet- 
ed as  they  had  imagined,  while  the  Americans 
were  as  quickly  raised  from  the  gloom  of  de- 
spondency to  the  light  of  a  glorious  hope. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Washington  takes  post  at  Trenton — Cornwallis  advances 
against  him — Perilous  situation  of  the  American  commander 
— His  daring  scheme  to  escape — Attacks  and  defeats  the 
enemy  at  Princeton — Subsequent  movements  of  the  con- 
tending armies — Washington  goes  into  winter  quarters  at 
Morristown — Inspiriting  effect  of  the  late  victories — Out- 
rages committed  by  the  enemy — New  Jersey  militia  take  the 
field — Skirmishes  near  Springfield  and  Hillsborough — Wash- 
ington's proclamation  to  the  disaffected  inhabitants — Ex- 
ceptions taken  to  it — Legislature  convenes — Difficulties  in 
framing  a  new  militia  law — Non-resistance  principles  re- 
spected— Dissatisfaction  of  Livingston — "  Council  of  Safety" 
appointed — Its  extraordinary  powers — Bill  to  confiscate  the 
estate.?  of  Tories — Its  favourable  conditions — Plundering  ex- 
peditions of  the  Tories  from  New  York. 

RECROSSING  the  Delaware,  Washington  sent 
his  prisoners  to  Philadelphia.  Startled  by  the 
sudden  and  unexpected  stroke  they  had  received, 
the  British  broke  up  their  cantonments  along 
the  river,  and  fell  back  to  Princeton,  where  a 
large  army  was  soon  concentrated  under  the 


1777.]  PERILOUS    POSITION.  169 

command  of  Cornwallis.  Informed  of  this  move- 
ment, Washington  once  more  crossed  the  Dela- 
ware to  Trenton,  with  the  determination  of  en- 
deavouring to  recover  the  Jerseys.  Here  he  was 
joined  by  General  Mifflin,  with  a  considerable 
reinforcement  of  Pennsylvania  volunteers  ;  but 
even  with  this  addition  his  army  did  not  number 
more  than  five  thousand  men,  of  whom  one-half 
had  never  before  been  in  the  field.  What  was 
still  more  disheartening,  in  that  number  were 
the  New  England  regiments,  whose  term  of  ser- 
vice was  in  a  few  days  to  expire.  By  the  per- 
suasions of  their  officers,  however,  and  the  pro- 
mise of  bounty,  they  were  induced  to  re-engage 
for  a  further  period  of  six  weeks. 

Scarcely  was  this  difficulty  surmounted,  when 
Cornwallis,  on  the  second  of  January,  1777,  with 
a  force  fully  equal  to  Washington's  in  point  of 
numbers,  and  far  superior  to  it  in  discipline, 
made  a  sudden  advance  toward  the  American 
lines.  As  he  approached,  Washington  withdrew 
across  the  Assunpink,  a  small  stream  flowing 
into  the  Delaware  at  Trenton.  The  different 
passages  being  vigilantly  guarded  by  his  artil- 
lery, the  British  were  unable  to  follow ;  and  after 
a  brisk  cannonade,  which  lasted  until  dark,  the 
belligerents  kindled  their  fires  and  encamped. 

The  American  commander  was  now  in  a  peril- 
ous position,  from  which  nothing  but  a  masterly 
and  decisive  movement  could  deliver  him.  To 

15 


170  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1777. 

retreat  across  the  Delaware  was  scarcely  possi- 
ble, and  to  maintain  his  present  ground  would  be 
to  hazard  the  safety  of  his  little  army.  He 
summoned  a  council  of  war.  After  some  delibe- 
ration a  daring  scheme  was  planned  to  gain  the 
enemy's  rear,  attack  their  forces  still  lingering 
at  Trenton,  and  then  destroy  their  baggage  and 
stores  at  Brunswick. 

Silently  sending  his  own  baggage  down  the 
river  to  Burlington,  "Washington  hastened  to  put 
his  plan  into  execution.  To  deceive  the  enemy 
as  to  his  movement,  fresh  fuel  was  added  to  the 
camp-fires,  and  small  parties  were  ordered  to 
throw  up  intrenchments  within  hearing  of  their 
sentinels.  These  arrangements  being  completed, 
about  midnight  the  army  moved  off  by  a  circuit- 
ous route  to  Princeton.  So  noiselessly  was  the 
manoeuvre  executed  that  the  enemy  received  no 
intimation  of  it  until  daybreak ;  while  some  of 
the  American  militia  officers,  having  withdrawn 
to  the  rear  to  obtain  an  undisturbed  sleep,  were, 
on  the  following  morning,  totally  ignorant  of 
what  had  become  of  their  comrades. 

At  Princeton  three  British  regiments  had  pass- 
ed the  night.  Two  of  these  were  already  on 
their  march  toward  Trenton,  when  in  the  gray 
of  the  morning  they  encountered  the  American 
vanguard,  composed  of  militia  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Mercer.  A  sharp  action  en- 
sued. The  militia  soon  gave  way,  and  while 


1777.]  SKIRMISH   AT    PRINCETON.  171 

gallantly  endeavouring  to  rally  them,  Mercer  re- 
ceived a  mortal  wound.  The  check,  however, 
was  but  momentary.  Moving  up  rapidly  with 
the  main  body,  Washington,  exposing  himself  to 
the  full  fire  of  the  enemy,  headed  a  fresh  and 
overwhelming  charge.  The  British  were  in  turn 
driven  back,  and  the  two  marching  regiments  sepa- 
rated. The  one  in  advance  managed  to  regain 
the  road  to  Trenton,  and  thus  escaped ;  the  other 
fled  hurriedly  across  the  fields  to  Brunswick. 
Abandoning  the  pursuit,  Washington  pushed  on 
to  Princeton,  where  the  third  regiment  had  taken 
post  in  the  college.  At  first  they  made  some 
slight  resistance,  but  the  American  artillery 
having  been  brought  up,  all  further  struggle  was 
vain,  and  they  yielded.  A  few,  however,  escaped 
by  a  precipitate  flight  to  Brunswick. 

The  loss  of  the  provincials  in  this  spirited 
action  was  about  one  hundred  men,  including 
several  gallant  officers.  One  hundred  of  the 
enemy  were  slain,  a  large  number  wounded,  and 
upward  of  three  hundred  made  prisoners. 

Scarcely  was  victory  achieved  when  Wash- 
ington again  found  his  situation  one  of  extreme 
peril.  His  troops  were  exhausted  by  their  night- 
march  and  the  fatigues  of  battle.  With  the 
!  frozen  sky  of  winter  above  them,  many  were 
barefooted,  others  destitute  of  blankets,  and  all 
thinly  or  imperfectly  clad.  Wholly  unable  to 
fight,  retreat  was  barely  possible.  Yet  Corn- 


172  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1777. 

wallis  was  close  upon  them,  with  an  army  in 
every  way  superior.  Hearing  the  roar  of  can- 
non at  Princeton,  he  had  immediately  fathom- 
ed the  intentions  of  the  American  chief.  Anxiety 
for  the  safety  of  his  baggage  at  once  drew  his 
attention  to  Brunswick.  Breaking  up  his  camp 
at  Trenton,  he  pushed  forward  so  rapidly  that 
Washington  but  narrowly  escaped  his  vigorous 
onset.  Wisely  abandoning  his  contemplated  at- 
tack on  Brunswick,  the  latter  sought  a  less  ex- 
posed situation,  where  his  soldiers  would  be  en- 
abled to  find  shelter  and  repose.  The  hilly 
country  around  Morristown  offered  many  strong 
positions  ;  and,  besides,  a  considerable  force  of 
regulars  and  militia  was  there  concentrated. 
Accordingly  Washington  directed  his  march  to 
that  place.  Hastily  constructing  a  number  of 
rude  huts,  he  there  encamped  for  the  winter, 
with  the  main  body  of  the  army ;  Putnam  rest- 
ing with  the  right  wing  on  Princeton,  while 
Heath,  in  command  of  the  left,  took  post  in  the 
fastnesses  of  the  highlands.  A  continuous 
chain  of  cantonments  kept  open  the  communica- 
tion between  these  three  points.  Meanwhile 
Cornwallis  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Bruns- 
wick. 

The  triumphs  at  Trenton  and  Princeton  fol- 
lowing one  another  so  closely,  and  gained  by  an 
army  that  just  before  had  seemed  upon  the  point 
of  breaking  up,  gave  the  highest  confidence  to 


1777.]        RAVAGES    OF   BRITISH   TROOPS.  173 

the  American  people,  not  only  in  the  abilities  of 
their  commander,  but  also  that  their  cause  would 
be  eventually  successful.  Nor  was  this  feeling 
confined  to  the  colonies.  On  the  continent  of 
Europe,  Washington's  masterly  prudence  received 
the  highest  commendation. 

At  home  the  hopes  created  as  to  the  favour- 
able issue  of  the  war  were  such  as  to  wonder- 
fully revive  the  recruiting  service,  which  had 
been  previously  attended  with  but  unimportant 
success.  Though  the  regiments  called  for  were 
not  filled  up,  still  the  organization  of  a  new 
army  proceeded  with  the  fairest  prospects. 

But  it  was  in  New  Jersey  that  public  feeling 
had  undergone  the  greatest  and  most  favourable 
change,  which,  however,  cannot  be  wholly  at- 
tributed to  the  successes  of  Washington.  Many 
of  the  people,  doubtful  or  lukewarm  as  to  the 
ultimate  triumph  of  the  patriots,  had  either  re- 
mained at  home,  or  accepted  British  protection. 
Yet  neither  their  neutrality  nor  their  protection 
had  saved  them  from  the  ravages  and  plunder 
of  the  enemy,  during  their  various  marches 
through  the  state.  Churches  and  other  public 
buildings,  as  well  as  private  residences,  with  all 
their  furniture,  were  destroyed  in  the  most 
wanton  manner.  Neither  old  age  nor  the  weak- 
ness of  womanhood  protected  from  outrage. 
Children  and  infants,  and  gray-haired  men  and 
matrons,  were  stripped  of  their  clothing,  and 

15* 


174  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1777. 

left  to  shiver  in  the  cold  of  winter ;  while  the 
violation  of  females,  even  of  a  tender  age,  added 
the  last  drop  that  caused  the  cup  of  their  bitter- 
ness to  overflow. 

At  once  the  country  rose  upon  the  invaders. 
The  wanton  outrages  of  the  royal  army  effected 
that  which  the  eloquence  of  Livingston,  united 
with  the  entreaties  of  Washington,  had  all  along 
been  •  incapable  of  producing.  The  militia  of 
New  Jersey  were  aroused  to  shake  off  this  apathy ; 
and  from  this  period  until  the  close  of  the  anx- 
ious and  weary  struggle,  no  body  of  men  ac- 
quired a  more  favourable  reputation,  or  conduct- 
ed themselves  with  a  greater  degree  of  disciplined 
activity  and  spirit.  Eagerly  joining  the  parties 
sent  out  by  Washington,  or  acting  independently 
under  their  own  leaders,  they  performed  valu- 
able service  in  harassing  the  British  outposts, 
and  in  breaking  up  the  numerous  bands  of 
Tories  that  infested  many  portions  of  the  state. 

A  few  days  subsequent  to  the  fight  at  Prince- 
ton, Colonel  Spencer,  with  some  forty  or  fifty 
of  the  militia,  surprised  an  equal  number  of 
Hessians  near  Springfield,  and  killed  or  captured 
the  whole  party.  For  his  gallantry  on  this  oc- 
casion, Spencer  was  rewarded  with  the  command 
of  a  regular  regiment. 

About  a  fortnight  afterward,  General  Dickin- 
son received  information  that  some  four  hundred 
of  the  enemy  were  foraging  in  the  neighbour- 


1777.]    ROUT  OF  A  FORAGING  PARTY.     175 

hood  of  Hillsborough.  Collecting  four  hundred 
of  the  militia,  to  which  were  joined  fifty  Penn- 
sylvania riflemen,  Dickinson  hastened  to  cut 
the  party  off.  They  had  just  crossed  the  Mill- 
stone River,  a  stream  uniting  with  the  Raritan 
three  miles  below  Hillsborough,  when  the  Ameri- 
cans came  up.  The  river  was  waist  deep,  and 
running  rapidly;  but  the  militia,  heedless  of 
the  rushing  waters,  dashed  forward  with  impetu- 
ous daring.  Without  unlimbering  their  cannon, 
of  which  they  had  three,  the  enemy  fled  pre- 
cipitately. So  rapid  was  their  flight,  indeed, 
that  the  Americans  could  make  but  few  prison- 
ers. Forty  wagons,  however,  more  than  a  hun- 
dred horses,  and  a  numerous  drove  of  cattle 
and  sheep  remained  in  their  hands  as  the  fruit 
of  victory.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  could  not  be 
definitely  ascertained,  but  they  carried  off  many 
dead  and  wounded  in  their  light  wagons.  That 
of  the  militia  was  trifling. 

These  brilliant  though,  perhaps,  not  very  im- 
portant affairs,  served  to  indicate  the  existence 
of  a  sturdier  patriotism  than  the  people  of  New 
Jersey  had  hitherto  displayed.  But,  while 
gratified  with  such  evidences  of  public  spirit, 
Washington  was  pained  to  be  compelled  to  issue 
a  stern  decree  against  "the  infamous  practice," 
common  to  both  militia  and  regulars,  "of  plun- 
dering the  inhabitants  under  the  pretence  of  their 
being  Tories." 


176  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1776. 

Another  proclamation,  as  humane  as  it  was 
politic,  was,  on  the  25th  of  January,  address- 
ed to  those  who  had  submitted  to  the  British, 
or  accepted  their  protection,  requiring  them,  as 
the  condition  of  a  full  pardon,  to  repair  to  the 
nearest  general  officer,  surrender  their  protec- 
tion papers,  and  swear  allegiance  to  the  United 
States.  They  were,  at  the  same  time,  discharg- 
ed from  any  obligations  they  might  owe  to  the 

king- 
Claiming  that  allegiance  was  due  to  the  state, 
and  not  to  the  confederacy,  one  of  the  New 
Jersey  congressmen  objected  to  this  proclama- 
tion on  the  ground  that  it  infringed  upon 
state  rights.  But  Congress  approved  of  it,  and 
the  legislature  of  the  state  presently  passed  an 
act  framed  in  a  similar  spirit.  Its  results  were 
speedy  and  cheering;  people  flocking  in  from 
all  parts  to  submit  to  the  authority  of  the  con- 
federacy, and  to  engage  in  behalf  of  that  great 
cause  which  had  called  it  into  existence. 

"Shortly  after  Washington  had  issued  the  pro- 
clamation alluded  to,  the  assembly  of  New  Jer- 
sey was  again  convened. 

The  first  subject  that  pressed  their  attention 
was  the  passage  of  a  new  law  to  regulate  the 
militia.  Washington,  through  Governor  Li- 
vingston, had  repeatedly  urged  that  "  every  man 
capable  of  bearing  arms,  should  be  obliged  to 
turn  out,  and  not  be  permitted  to  buy  off  his 


1776.]  COUNCIL   OF   SAFETY.  177 

services  for  a  trifling  sum,"  as  was  the  case 
under  the  law  then  in  operation.  "We  want 
men,"  said  he,  "not  money."  But  the  Quakers 
of  West  Jersey  were  numerous,  and  non-resist- 
ance was  one  of  their  most  cherished  doctrines. 
Believing  that  it  would  be  useless,  impolitic,  and 
highly  oppressive  to  attempt  to  force  this  class 
of  persons  to  participate  in  measures  directly  at 
variance  with  the  prime  points  of  their  religious 
creed,  the  assembly,  in  framing  the  new  militia 
law,  which  they  presently  enacted,  would  modify 
this  portion  of  it  in  no  other  way  than  by  in- 
creasing the  sum  that  was  required  to  purchase 
exemption  from  military  duty. 

Prudent  as  the  course  of  the  assembly  will 
now  be  regarded,  the  patriotic  Livingston  could 
not  view  it  in  a  satisfactory  light.  But  the 
keenness  of  his  disappointment  was  afterward 
mitigated  in  some  degree,  by  the  ready  concur- 
rence of  both  houses  in  his  plan  for  a  «  Council 
of  Safety,"  to  consist  of  the  governor  and  twelve 
of  the  representatives,  with  extraordinary  pow- 
ers, to  act  during  the  recess  of  the  legislature. 
This  council  was  authorized  to  correspond  with 
Congress  and  with  other  states,  to  perform  the 
duties  of  justices  of  peace,  to  apprehend  and 
imprison  disaffected  persons,  and  to  call  out  such 
portions  of  the  militia  as  they  might  deem  ne- 
cessary to  execute  the  laws. 

Likewise,  on  the  recommendation  of  Livings- 


178  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1776. 

ton,  another  bill  was  presently  passed,  author- 
izing the  confiscation  of  the  personal  estates  of 
all  those  who  still  adhered  to  the  British  interest ; 
yet  allowing  such  persons  a  period  of  grace,  in 
which,  upon  renewing  their  allegiance  to  the 
state,  they  might  return  and  take  possession  of 
their  property. 

Many  took  advantage  of  this  condition,  and 
were  restored  to  all  their  former  rights  and  pri- 
vileges; others,  however,  assembling  in  and 
around  New  York,  endeavoured  to  make  up  for 
the  loss  of  their  estates  by  the  fitting  out  of 
privateers,  and  by  plundering  expeditions  into 
their  old  neighbourhoods.  Nor  did  they  stop 
with  these.  Deeply  incensed  against  the  more 
prominent  patriots,  they  seized  every  opportunity 
to  work  them  injury ;  and,  aided  by  secret  friends, 
they  were  enabled  to  kidnap  several  of  them,  and 
carry  them  off  to  the  prisons  of  New  York.  Re- 
taliation, of  course,  followed,  with  all  the  fierce- 
ness of  a  civil  and  partisan  contest. 


1777.]  OPENING  OF  CAMPAIGN.  179 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Opening  of  the  campaign  of  1777 — American  stores  at  Peeks- 
kill  destroyed — Skirmish  at  Boundbrook — Washington  takes 
a  strong  position  at  Middlebrook — Howe's  feint  to  draw  him 
from  his  camp — Its  ill  success — Howe  retreats  to  Amboy — 
Washington  advances  to  Quibbletown — Howe  returns  to 
attack  him — Is  again  foiled — Retires  to  Staten  Island,  and 
embarks  for  the  southward — Perplexity  of  Washington  in 
regard  to  his  movements — Loyalists  on  Staten  Island  be- 
come troublesome — Sullivan's  attempt  against  them — Howe 
lands  at  the  head  of  Chesapeake  Bay — Battle  of  Brandy- 
wine — Wayne  surprised  at  Paoli — Howe  enters  Philadelphia 
— Clinton  ravages  East  Jersey — Battle  of  Germantown — 
American  successes  at  the  north — Movements  on  the  Dela- 
ware— American  works  at  Byllinsport  captured' — Defences 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Schuylkill — Donop  assaults  Red 
Bank  and  is  repulsed — Re-election  of  Livingston — Dickin- 
son's attempt  against  the  Staten  Island  Tories — Fort  Mifflin 
evacuated  and  Red  Bank  abandoned — British  in  full  pos- 
session of  the  Delaware — Skirmish  near  Gloucester  Point — 
Washington  goes  into  winter  quarters  at  Valley  Forge. 

WASHINGTON  had  rested  at  Morristown  nearly 
three  months  before  the  British  began  to  give 
indications  of  activity.  At  length  Howe  open- 
ed the  campaign  in  March,  by  sending  a  detach- 
ment of  five  hundred  men  to  Peekskill,  on  the 
Hudson,  where  they  succeeded  in  destroying  a 
quantity  of  stores  which  the  Americans  had  col- 
lected at  that  point. 

At   Boundbrook,    in   the   neighbourhood   of 


180  HISTORY   OF   NEW    JERSEY.  [1777. 

Brunswick,  a  considerable  American  force  had 
been  posted  to  guard  the  upper  valley  of  the 
Raritan.  With  the  design  of  capturing  this  de- 
tachment, Cornwallis,  on  the  13th  of  April,  sud- 
denly issued  from  his  camp  at  Brunswick,  with  a 
large  body  of  troops.  The  American  guard  not 
being  sufficiently  watchful,  narrowly  escaped  a 
complete  surprise.  As  it  was,  they  lost  twenty 
men,  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  small  amount 
of  baggage,  before  they  could  gain  a  safe 
position. 

Washington  was  soon  convinced  that  Burgoyne, 
who  now  commanded  the  British  army  in  Cana- 
da, would  attempt  to  force  his  way,  by  Lake 
Champlain  and  the  Hudson,  to  New  York.  It 
was  equally  clear  to  him  that  Howe  would  en- 
deavour either  to  push  up  the  North  River  or  to 
capture  Philadelphia.  He  therefore  determined 
to  make  such  a  disposition  of  his  forces  that,  by 
the  different  divisions  being  enabled  to  recipro- 
cally aid  each  other,  any  one  of  these  expected 
movements  might  be  counteracted.  While  St. 
Clair,  with  three  thousand  men,  was  left  at  Ti- 
conderoga,  and  Putnam,  at  the  head  of  the  east- 
ern levies,  in  the  highlands,  the  commander-in- 
chief,  with  the  main  body  of  the  army,  scarcely 
eight  thousand  strong,  shifted  his  camp  to  Mid- 
dlebrook,  behind  a  range  of  commanding  hills, 
about  twelve  miles  from  Princeton.  His  new 
position  was  one  of  great  strength.  From  the 


1777.]  FEIXT   OF   HOWE.  181 

heights  in  front  a  full  view  could  be  obtained  of 
the  country  between  Amboy  and  Brunswick,  and 
he  was  thus  enabled  to  observe  all  the  important 
movements  of  the  enemy  in  that  quarter.  A 
body  of  continentals  and  New  Jersey  militia, 
under  General  Sullivan,  was  stationed  at  Prince- 
ton. Arnold,  in  command  at  Philadelphia,  was 
employed  with  MilHin  in  preparing  for  its  de- 
fence. 

Hoping  to  draw  Washington  into  a  general 
engagement  on  ground  more  advantageous  for 
himself,  Lord  Howe,  on  the  13th  of  June,  march- 
ed out  of  Brunswick  with  a  powerful  army,  ap- 
parently intending  to  force  his  way  to  Philadel- 
phia. Calling  to  his  aid  most  of  the  troops 
under  Putnam,  and  ordering  Sullivan  to  retire 
from  Princeton  to  the  more  elevated  and  securer 
grounds  of  Rocky  Hill,  the  American  general 
drew  up  his  army  in  order  of  battle  on  the 
heights  fronting  his  camp,  and  kept  a  close  watch 
upon  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  Meanwhile 
the  militia  had  turned  out  in  force,  and  with  an 
alacrity  they  had  not  hitherto  displayed. 

Finding  his  feint  insufficient  to  draw  Wash- 
ington from  the  impregnable  position  he  occupied^ 
and  constantly  harassed  by  small  parties  of  the 
militia,  Howe  retreated  with  some  precipitation  to 
Amboy,  whence  he  began  to  pass  his  troops  over 
to  Staten  Island,  from  which,  in  accordance- 

16 


182  HISTORY   OF   NEW    JERSEY.  [1777. 

•with  his  original  design,  he  made  preparations  to 
proceed  by  sea  to  Philadelphia. 

To  cover  the  light  parties  that  had  been  de- 
tached to  annoy  the  retreat  of  Howe,  Washing- 
ton moved  with  the  main  body  of  the  army  to 
Quibbletown;  the  van,  under  Stirling,  having 
descended  to  the  low  grounds,  yet  a  few  miles 
nearer  to  the  British.  Howe  immediately  pre- 
pared to  execute  a  skilful  manoeuvre  to  bring  on 
a  general  engagement,  in  which,  as  the  Ameri- 
cans were  now  situated,  he  was  fully  confident  of 
obtaining  a  triumph. 

Recalling  the  troops  on  Staten  Island,  he 
wheeled  suddenly  around,  and  made  a  rapid 
movement,  in  two  columns,  toward  the  heights 
and  passes  on  the  American  left,  which  he  thus 
hoped  to  turn.  Happily  Washington  received 
early  intelligence  of  the  British  advance.  Pene- 
trating immediately  the  design  of  Howe,  he  fell 
rapidly  back  to  his  cherished  position  at  Middle- 
brook.  During  this  retrograde  movement,  Stir- 
ling encountered  the  right  column  of  the  enemy 
under  Cornwallis.  A  spirited  skirmish  ensued, 
which  resulted  in  the  retreat  of  the  American?, 
with  the  loss  of  a  few  men  and  three  field- 
pieces. 

Baffled  in  his  main  design,  and  not  choosing 
to  attack  Washington's  present  position,  Howe 
withdrew  to  Amboy,  and  thence  to  Staten  Island. 
Amboy,  being  thus  abandoned,  was  immediately 


1777.]  INCURSIONS    OF   LOYALISTS.  183 

occupied  by  a  division  of  the  American  army. 
On  the  30th  of  June,  leaving  five  thousand 
troops  to  hold  New  York,  the  British  general 
embarked  with  sixteen  thousand  men  for  Phila- 
delphia. 

Under  the  impression  that  Howe  intended  to 
push  up  the  Hudson  and  co-operate  with  Bur- 
goyne,  who  was  already  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Ticonderoga,  Washington  marched  leisurely 
toward  the  highlands  ;  but  the  British  fleet  pre- 
sently appearing  off  the  capes  of  the  Delaware, 
he  retraced  his  steps  through  New  Jersey  and 
took  post  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia. 

Howe  disappeared  almost  as  soon  as  he  was 
observed,  nor  was  the  fleet  seen  again  until  a 
month  had  nearly  elapsed.  Perplexed  and 
anxious  as  to  the  final  destination  of  the  enemy, 
Washington  remained  at  Philadelphia,  indus- 
triously preparing  for  its  defence. 

Meanwhile  the  British  troops  left  on  S  tat  en 
Island  had  rendered  themselves  highly  obnoxious. 
About  one  thousand,  or  a  third  of  their  number, 
consisted  of  several  loyalist  or  Tory  regiments, 
which  were  stationed  at  various  points  on  the 
coast  nearest  the  Jersey  shore.  Thus  posted, 
they  made  frequent  incursions  against  the  peo- 
ple of  New  Jersey,  whom  they  plundered  with- 
out the  least  scruple ;  and,  at  length,  in  one  of 
these  marauding  expeditions  they  carried  off  twelve 
of  the  most  prominent  patriots  in  that  section 


184  HISTOEY   OP   NEW   JERSEY.  [1777. 

of  the  state.  A  counter  expedition,  to  capture 
the  loyalist  regiments,  was  immediately  planned 
by  Sullivan,  who  yet  remained  in  New  Jersey 
with  his  division. 

With  picked  men  from  his  own  command,  and 
a  few  Jersey  militia  under  Colonel  Frelinghuy- 
sen,  numbering  in  all  about  one  thousand,  Sul- 
livan embarked  for  Staten  Island,  during  the 
night  of  the  twenty-first  of  August,  and  by 
dawn  of  the  next  day  had  succeeded  in  landing 
unperceived  by  the  enemy.  Two  loyalist  regi- 
ments were  surprised,  and  many  prisoners  made; 
but  the  alarm  had  been  given,  and  a  body  of 
British  regulars  was  hastening  from  another 
part  of  the  island  to  intercept  Sullivan's  re- 
treat. In  this  they  were  partially  successful. 
The  American  general  had  sent  off  his  prisoners 
in  a  captured  vessel.  Discovering  British  uni- 
forms on  the  deck  of  this  vessel,  some  of  Sulli- 
van's boats  took  the  alarm  and  fled.  His  re- 
embarkation  was  thus  retarded  so  long  that  the 
rear-guard  was  attacked  by  the  enemy,  and, 
after  an  obstinate  conflict,  compelled  to  sur- 
render. 

The  total  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  affair 
was  one  hundred  and  sixty-two.  That  of  the 
British  in  killed  and  wounded  could  not  be  ob- 
tained, but  the  number  of  prisoners  brought  off 
by  Sullivan  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  forty- 
one,  including  eleven  officers. 


1777.]     BATTLE  OF  BRANDYWINE.        185 

Sullivan  had  scarcely  regained  his  camp  when 
he  received  orders  to  join  the  main  army. 
Having  landed  at  the  head  of  Chesapeake  Bay, 
Howe  was  now  marching  rapidly  toward  Phila- 
delphia. Advancing  to  Wilmington,  Washing- 
ton summoned  the  militia  to  his  aid ;  but  with 
all  the  reinforcements  he  received,  the  enemy 
was  still  superior,  even  in  numbers. 

At  length,  on  the  llth  of  September,  having 
retired  behind  the  Brandywine,  the  American 
general  there  awaited  the  British  army,  sixteen 
thousand  strong.  His  own  effective  force  was 
but  little  more  than  eleven  thousand  men,  many 
of  whom  were  militia.  In  the  battle  that  pre- 
sently ensued,  the  Americans  unfortunately  met 
with  defeat.  Nine  days  afterward  Wayne  was 
surprised  at  Paoli ;  and  on  the  twenty-sixth  of 
September,  Lord  Cornwallis,  at  the  head  of  the 
British  and  Hessian  grenadiers,  entered  Phila- 
delphia in  triumph. 

Meanwhile,  retaliating  Sullivan's  attack  on 
Staten  Island,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  sallied  out  of 
New  York  with  three  thousand  troops,  and  overran 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  eastern  section  of 
New  Jersey.  Finding  that  the  militia  were  as 
sembling,  and  threatened  by  a  detachment  of 
continentals,  he  at  length  returned  to  New  York, 
having  caused  much  annoyance  and  alarm,  and 
plundered  the  inhabitants  of  their  most  valuable 
16* 


186  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1777. 

live  stock,  with  a  loss  of  but  eight  men  killed 
and  sixteen  wounded. 

After  the  fall  of  Philadelphia,  Washington 
encamped  near  the  Schuylkill,  about  fourteen 
miles  from  Germantown,  where  the  bulk  of  the 
British  army  was  stationed.  Here  he  awaited 
reinforcements.  Dickinson  and  Livingston  were 
busily  engaged  in  arousing  the  New  Jersey  mi- 
litia. Having  by  his  untiring  exertions  collected 
a  force  of  nine  hundred  men,  Dickinson  was 
about  to  join  the  main  army  when  he  received 
intelligence  of  another  threatened  invasion  from 
New  York.  Proceeding  himself,  with  three  hun- 
dred men,  toward  Elizabethtown,  he  directed  the 
remainder,  under  General  Forman,  to  cross  the 
Delaware,  and  join  Washington's  camp. 

Having  received  this  and  other  additions  to 
his  force,  Washington  planned  an  attack  on  the 
British  at  Germantown.  An  attempt  to  execute 
this  plan  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth  of  October, 
though  begun  with  the  brightest  prospects  of 
success,  terminated  in  the  most  disastrous  failure, 
with  a  loss  on  the  part  of  the  Americans  of  more 
than  a  thousand  men. 

As  if  to  dispel  the  gloom  occasioned  by  the 
defeat  of  Washington  at  Germantown,  the  most 
cheering  intelligence  presently  arrived  from  the 
northern  army. 

Following  up  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga, 
Burgoyne  had  moved  on,  gaining  triumph  after 


1777.]     SUCCESSES  AT  THE  NORTH.      187 

triumph.  Stark's  success  over  Baum  at  Ben- 
nington,  was  the  turning  point  in  his  career  of 
victory.  Its  effect  in  reviving  the  drooping  spirits 
of  the  Americans  was  truly  magical.  Rally- 
ing under  the  standard  of  Gates,  they  closed  in 
from  all  sides  upon  the  unfortunate  Burgoyne. 
After  the  two  hattles  of  Behmus's  Heights — the 
first  resulting  doubtfully,  but  the  second  in  a  de- 
cided American  triumph — the  British  general 
endeavoured  to  effect  his  retreat  to  Fort  Edward. 
His  communications  with  that  place  being  cut 
off,  his  provisions  and  supplies  intercepted, 
and  his  fast-thinning  army  effectually  hemmed 
in  by  a  superior  force,  Burgoyne  was  compelled 
to  surrender  his  whole  army  to  Gates,  on  the  17th 
of  October. 

Meanwhile,  after  the  battle  of  Germantown, 
Washington  had  retired  to  his  old  encampment 
on  the  Skippack.  Though  Philadelphia  was  lost, 
the  Americans  were  yet  in  possession  of  the 
river  below.  They  had  fortified  it  with  great 
pains.  Howe's  fleet  was  already  in  the  lower 
Delaware,  but  safe  communication  with  it  from 
Philadelphia  was  next  to  an  impossibility.  The 
attention  of  both  commanders  was  therefore 
almost  wholly  bestowed  upon  the  Delaware  ;  that 
of  Howe  to  remove,  and  of  Washington  to 
maintain  intact,  the(  obstructions  to  its  navi- 
gation. 

The  fleet  having  at  length,  with  great  difficulty, 


188  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1777. 

reached  Byllingsport,  twelve  miles  below  Camden, 
and  captured  the  unfinished  American  works  at 
that  point,  Howe  concentrated  his  forces  in  the 
immediate  neighbourhood  of  Philadelphia,  pre- 
paratory to  a  vigorous  assault  on  the  remaining 
defences  of  the  Delaware. 

On  a  low  island  of  mud  and  sand,  just  below 
the  mouth  of  the  Schuylkill,  stood  Fort  Mifflin, 
held  by  Colonel  Smith  of  the  Maryland  line. 
Opposite,  on  the  Jersey  shore,  were  the  fortifica- 
tions of  Red  Bank,  consisting  of  extensive  outer 
works,  within  which  was  a  boarded  intrenchment, 
eight  or  nine  feet  high,  protected  by  an  abattis, 
and  well  provided  with  heavy  artillery.  Two 
Rhode  Island  regiments,  under  Greene,  com- 
posed the  garrison.  In  the  channel  between  the 
two  forts,  large  timbers,  chained  firmly  together, 
and  with  iron-pointed  projecting  beams,  had  been 
sunk  to  obstruct  the  passage  of  the  enemy's 
ships.  There  were,  besides,  in  the  river  several 
small  continental  vessels,  and  a  gun-boat  battery 
belonging  to  Pennsylvania,  all  of  which  were 
under  the  direction  of  the  brave  and  gallant 
Commodore  Hazelwood.  For  the  British  fleet 
to  reach  Philadelphia,  it  was  necessary  to  re- 
move these  obstacles.  Hoping  that,  if  they 
could  maintain  their  ground,  Howe  would  be 
compelled  to  evacuate  that  city,  the  Americans 
prepared  for  a  desperate  and  determined  re- 
sistance. 


1777.]  REPULSE    OF   DONOP. 

On  the  21st  of  October,  Count  Donop,  a  dis- 
tinguished German  officer^  with  twelve  hundred 
picked  men,  crossed  the  Delaware  at  Cooper's 
Ferry,  intending  on  the  following  day  to  attack 
the  post  at  Red  Bank.  During  the  morning  of 
the  22d  he  marched  down  the  Jersey  side  and 
made  ready  to  storm  the  works.  Meanwhile,  in 
accordance  with  the  plan  of  a  combined  attack, 
several  British  war  vessels  ascended  the  river  as 
far  as  the  obstructions  would  allow,  and  opened 
a  furious  and  incessant  cannonade  upon  Hazel- 
wood's  flotilla  and  Fort  Mifflin. 

Late  in  the  evening  Donop  drew  up  his  column 
preparatory  to  a  desperate  assault  upon  the  main 
intrenchment  of  the  Americans,  into  which, 
abandoning  their  outer  works,  they  had  with- 
drawn, in  number  about  five  hundred,  on  the  first 
approach  of  the  British.  At  length,  led  by 
their  gallant  colonel,  the  enemy  rushed  with 
great  intrepidity  to  the  attack.  They  were  met 
by  a  deadly  discharge  of  grapeshot  and  musket- 
balls.  Fighting  bravely  they  continued  their 
assault  until,  involved  in  darkness  and  fatigued 
by  their  unavailing  efforts,  they  were  obliged  to 
fall  back  in  disorder,  with  a  loss  of  nearly  four 
hundred  in  killed  and  wounded.  Early  in  the 
engagement  Donop  had  fallen  mortally  hurt  at 
the  head  of  his  column.  Favoured  by  the  night, 
the  next  officer  in  command,  having  collected 
many  of  the  wounded,  made  good  his  retreat  to 


190  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1777. 

Philadelphia,  where  he  arrived  early  in  the  fol- 
lowing morning.  During  this  spirited  action, 
the  first  as  yet  in  which  they  had  repelled  an  as- 
sault, the  Americans  lost  in  all  but  thirty-six 
men. 

Equal  ill  success  had  attended  the  naval  at- 
tack upon  Fort  Mifflin.  One  of  the  ships  en- 
gaged in  it  was  blown  up ;  another,  having  got 
aground,  was  set  on  fire  and  abandoned ;  and  the 
remainder  were  compelled  to  drop  down  the  river 
with  serious  injury. 

Five  or  six  days  subsequent  to  this  event,  the 
second  legislature  of  New  Jersey  convened  in 
primary  session.  Meeting  in  joint  assembly, 
on  the  first  of  November,  they  re-elected  Li- 
vingston as  governor  without  a  dissenting  voice. 

About  the  same  time  General  Dickinson, 
having  collected  nearly  two  thousand  of  the 
militia,  determined  upon  another  attempt  to  cut 
off  the  loyalist  brigade  on  Staten  Island.  But, 
though  he  observed  the  utmost  secrecy,  the  enemy 
by  some  means  became  apprized  of  his  design, 
and  saved  themselves  by  withdrawing  into  works 
too  strong  to  be  carried  by  assault.  After  a 
skirmish  with  the  flying  troops,  in  which  three 
of  his  men  were  killed  and  ten  wounded,  Dick- 
inson wisely  retired  from  the  island.  The  loss 
of  the  loyalists  was  trifling,  and  consisted  mainly 
of  the  few  prisoners  brought  off  by  the  Ame- 
ricans. 


1777.]  FORT    MIFFLIN    EVACUATED.  191 

Flattering  expectations  were  created  by  the 
gallant  defence  of  Red  Bank,  that  it  would  be 
possible  to  keep  possession  of  the  river.  In 
the  exultation  of  the  moment,  Congress  voted  a 
sword  to  each  of  the  three  commanders  on  that 
occasion.  Meantime  strenuous  endeavours  were 
made  to  relieve  and  reinforce  the  two  forts, 
against  which,  after  a  brief  intermission,  the 
British  had  renewed  active  operations.  Concen- 
trating their  efforts  against  Fort  Mifflin,  they 
erected  several  batteries  on  a  neighbouring 
island,  from  which  they  kept  up  a  furious  and 
unceasing  cannonade.  Toiling  by  night  to  re- 
pair the  breaches  made  during  the  day,  the  be- 
leaguered garrison  fought  bravely,  but  without 
avail.  At  length  the  fort  was  declared  untena- 
ble, but  not  until  the  vessels  of  the  enemy  were 
so  close  that  the  fire  of  their  marines  swept  the 
platform.  Under  these  circumstances  an  evacu- 
ation was  deemed  advisable.  Accordingly,  about 
midnight  on  the  16th  of  November,  the  garrison 
was  safely  withdrawn. 

Hopes  were  yet  entertained  of  holding  the 
fort  at  Red  Bank,  but  upon  the  approach  of 
Cornwallis  from  Philadelphia  with  five  thousand 
troops,  it,  too,  was  abandoned.  Taking  posses- 
sion of  the  evacuated  posts,  and  removing  the 
remainder  of  the  obstructions,  the  British  fleet 
and  army  were  at  length  able  to  communicate. 

Having  collected  a  considerable  quantity  of 


192  HISTORY   OF   XEW   JERSEY.  [1777. 

fresh  provisions,  Cornwallis  pitched  his  camp  on 
Gloucester  Point.  While  he  was  yet  at  this 
place  a  brilliant  little  action  was  performed,  in 
conjunction  with  an  equal  number  of  Morgan's 
riflemen,  by  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  New 
Jersey  militia,  under  the  command  of  Lafayette. 
Falling  upon  a  picket-guard  of  the  enemy  nearly 
three  hundred  strong,  they  put  them  to  precipi- 
tate flight,  and  drove  them  completely  into  the 
camp,  killing  between  twenty  and  thirty,  and 
wounding  a  much  greater  number.  «  I  found 
the  riflemen,"  wrote  Lafayette  to  Washington 
on  this  occasion,  "even  above  their  reputation, 
and  the  militia  above  all  expectation  I  could 
have  formed  of  them." 

The  campaign  of  1777  was  now  over.  After 
having  narrowly  escaped  a  surprise  by  the  British, 
Washington,  on  the  12th  of  December,  went  into 
winter  quarters  at  Valley  Forge,  a  high  and 
strong  piece  of  ground  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Schuylkill,  some  twenty  miles  above  Philadelphia. 


1777.]          SUFFERINGS    OF   THE   ARMY.  193 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Distress  of  the  American  prisoners  in  New  York — Sufferings 
of  the  army — Measures  taken  by  the  state  for  their  relief — 
Articles  of  confederation  brought  before  the  legislature  of 
New  Jersey — Alliance  between  France  and  the  United  Co- 
lonies— Objections  of  the  legislature  to  the  Articles  of  Con- 
federation— British  foraging  party  under  Mawhood  enters 
Salem  county — Conflict  at  Quinton's  Bridge — Gallant  ex- 
ploit of  Andrew  Bacon — British  forces  a  second  time  re- 
pulsed at  Quinton's  Bridge — Americans  massacred  at  Han- 
cock's Bridge — Correspondence  between  Mawhood  and 
Colonel  Hand — British  return  to  Philadelphia — Expedition 
against  Bordentown — Narrow  escape  of  Lafayette  at  Barren 
Hill — Clinton  ordered  to  evacuate  Philadelphia — He  retreats 
across  the  Jerseys — Washington  starts  in  pursuit — Battle 
of  Monmouth  Court  House — Lee's  conduct  during  the 
action  censured — He  is  arrested, tried,  suspended,  and  finally 
dismissed  from  the  service. 

MEANWHILE  the  legislature  of  New  Jersey  re- 
mained in  session,  devising  means  to  meet  va- 
rious demands  that  were  now  made  upon  them. 
The  most  pressing  of  these  demands  related  to 
the  condition  of  the  American  army  at  Valley 
Forge,  and  to  the  wants  of  that  class  of  suffer- 
ing citizens  whom  the  enemy  had  carried  off  and 
confined  in  the  prisons  of  New  York. 

With  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  army,  it 
was  deplorable.  Frequently,  during  their  en- 
campment, the  soldiers  were  destitute  of  meat, 

17 


194  HISTORY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1778. 

while  vegetables  and  other  articles  requisite 
for  their  health,  were  procured  with  difficulty. 
Nor  were  their  sufferings  less  from  want  of 
clothing.  On  the  first  of  February,  1778,  nearly 
four  thousand  men  were  reported  unfit  for  duty 
on  that  account  alone.  "  A  man  of  sensibility," 
said  Livingston  to  the  legislature,  "cannot  but 
feel  for  these  brave  men,  fighting  for  their 
country,  at  this  inclement  season,  many  of  them 
without  shoes,  stockings,  warm  clothing,  and 
even  blankets  to  lie  upon." 

Steps  were  immediately  taken  by  the  assembly 
to  meet  these  emergencies,  so  far,  at  least,  as  it 
was  possible  for  a  single  state  to  move  in  the 
matter.  For  the  relief  of  the  prisoners  at  New 
York,  Abraham  Van  Neste  was  appointed  a 
special  commissioner,  with  authority  and  means 
to  provide  them  with  such  necessaries  as  they 
most  needed ;  while,  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
suffering  army,  bills  were  passed  to  raise  a  sum 
of  money  by  taxation,  and  by  leasing  the  real 
estate  of  such  persons  as  had  left  the  state  and 
joined  the  enemy. 

In  order  to  successfully  continue  the  contest 
in  which  they  were  engaged,  Congress  had 
already,  on  the  15th  of  November,  1777,  adopted 
certain  "Articles  of  Confederation,"  creating  a 
more  perfect  union  between  the  thirteen  states, 
under  the  style  and  title  of  the  "  United  States  of 
America."  To  render  these  articles  binding,  it  was 


1778.]     ALLIANCE  WITH  FKANCE.       195 

necessary  that  they  should  be  first  sanctioned  by 
the  several  states.  Brought  before  the  New 
Jersey  legislature,  the  question  of  agreeing  to 
them  was  yet  pending,  when  Governor  Livings- 
ton, on  the  27th  of  May,  communicated  to  the 
two  houses  intelligence  of  the  most  cheering 
character. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  war,  an  alliance 
with  France  had  been  sought  after,  but  with  ill 
success,  by  the  American  commissioners  at  Paris. 
Moved,  in  part,  by  the  tenacity  of  purpose  ex- 
hibited by  the  revolted  colonies,  and  still  more 
by  the  probability  of  Parliament's  sanctioning 
certain  conciliatory  bills  in  which  the  right  to 
tax  America  was  virtually  relinquished,  Yer- 
gennes,  the  French  minister,  finally  concluded 
with  the  commissioners  of  Congress,  two  treaties, 
one  of  defensive  alliance,  and  the  other  of  friend- 
ship and  commerce. 

It  was  the  intelligence  of  this  alliance  that 
Livingston  introduced  to  the  assembly,  exhort- 
ing them  to  make  "but  one  more  spirited  and 
general  effort"  to  "emancipate  themselves  into 
complete  and  uninterrupted  liberty."  Inspiriting 
as  it  was  to  them,  it  was  no  less  so  to  the  country 
at  large,  entirely  neutralizing  whatever  effect 
had  been  expected  from  the  conciliatory  bills, 
and  rendering  still  more  determined  the  re- 
solution of  the  Americans  to  be  free  and  in- 
dependent. 


196  HISTORY  OF 'NEW  JERSEY.       [1778. 

At  length,  on  the  15th  of  June,  a  committee 
from  both  houses  of  the  New  Jersey  legislature, 
having  been  previously  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose, made  a  full  and  able  report  in  regard  to 
the  new  "Articles  of  Confederation."  Several 
amendments  were  proposed  to  the  congressional 
plan  of  union,  the  most  important  of  which  were 
to  prohibit  a  standing  army  in  time  of  peace;  to 
invest  Congress  with  the  sole  and  exclusive  power 
of  regulating  the  trade  with  foreign  countries ; 
and  to  authorize  that  body  to  dispose  of  vacant 
and  unpatented  lands,  for  defraying  the  expenses 
of  the  war,  and  for  other  such  public  and  general 
purposes.  This  report  having  been  adopted,  and 
a  copy  of  it  forwarded  to  Congress,  the  question 
•was  for  a  time  suffered  to  remain  at  rest. 

Meanwhile,  as  the  spring  opened,  the  enemy 
began  to  show  signs  of  life.  Pressed  for  pro- 
visions, Clinton,  now  in  command  at  Philadel- 
phia, found  it  necessary  to  send  out  strong  forag- 
ing parties  into  the  surrounding  country,  which 
suffered  extremely  from  the  extent  and  wanton- 
ness of  their  devastations. 

On  the  17th  of  March,  a  British  detachment, 


of  Colonel  Mawhood  and  Majors  Simcoe  and 
Sims,  having  landed  at  Byllingsport,  made  a 
rapid  march  to  Salem,  in  the  expectation  of  sur- 
prising Colonel  Wayne,  who,  with  a  few  Ame- 
rican troops,  was  posted  at  that  place.  Unsuc- 


1778.]      CONFLICT   AT   QUINTON'S   BRIDGE.        197 

cessful  in  this,  Mawhood,  at  daybreak  of  the 
18th,  despatched  Simcoe  to  cut  off  a  small  party 
of  the  militia  under  Colonel  Holmes,  who  were 
intrenched  at  Quinton's  Bridge,  on  the  southern 
shore  of  Alloway's  Creek,  about  three  miles 
from  Salem.  By  a  successful  stratagem,  Simcoe 
drew  the  militia  from  their  works  across  the 
bridge,  and  into  an  ambuscade.  A  fierce  con- 
flict ensued.  Surprised  and  outnumbered,  and 
with  a  loss  of  forty  men,  the  Americans  re- 
treated to  their  intrenchments,  bravely  contest- 
ing every  foot  of  the  way.  As  their  rear  left 
the  bridge,  one  of  the  most  courageous  of  the 
party,  Andrew  Bacon  by  name,  seized  an  axe, 
and  heedless  of  the  storm  of  balls  that  whistled 
around  him,  resolutely  cut  away  the  draw,  thus 
rendering  immediate  pursuit  by  the  enemy  im- 
possible. Scarcely  was  this  gallant  action  per- 
formed, when  the  hero  of  it- received  a  wound  by 
which  he  was  crippled  for  life.  In  the  mean  time, 
Colonel  Hand,  with  a  reinforcement  of  militia, 
had  arrived  on  the  ground,  and  now  opening 
upon  the  enemy  a  heavy  fire  from  two  pieces  of 
artillery,  he  compelled  them  to  fall  back  upon 
the  main  body  at  Salem. 

Chagrined  on  account  of  Simcoe's  ultimate 
failure,  Mawhood  determined  to  pass  the  bridge 
at  all  hazards.  Accordingly,  early  in  the  fol- 
lowing day,  he  attacked  it  with  his  whole  force. 
But  cheered  by  their  late  success,  and  so  posted 

17* 


198  HISTORY   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  [1778. 

that  both  flanks' as  well  as  the  front  of  the  at- 
tacking column,  were  exposed  to  their  fire,  the 
Americans  obstinately  stood  their  ground,  and 
Mawhood,  after  a  desperate  attempt  to  gain  his 
point,  was  obliged  to  retreat  in  considerable 
disorder. 

Late  in  the  evening  of  the  next  day,  a  party 
of  Tories  and  regular  troops,  under  the  conduct 
of  Simcoe,  was  despatched  to  surprise  a  small 
body  of  Americans  stationed  at  Hancock's 
Bridge,  about  two  miles  below  Quinton's.  The 
success  of  this  expedition  was  complete  and  san- 
guinary. Wearied  out,  and  unsuspicious  of 
danger,  the  Americans  were  sound  asleep.  A 
few  only  woke  in  time-  to  escape.  The  remainder, 
between  twenty  and  thirty  in  number,  some  yet 
asleep,  others  half  aroused,  and  none  offering 
resistance,  were  bayoneted  in  cold  blood. 

But  a  few  hours  after  this  massacre,  Mawhood 
addressed  a  note  to  Hand,  now  in  command  at 
Quinton's  Bridge,  summoning  him  to  lay  down 
his  arms  and  surrender.  In  case  of  refusal,  he 
threatened  to  arm  the  Tories,  and  to  "attack  all 
the  militia  wearing  arms,  burn  their  houses,  and 
reduce  them,  their  unfortunate  wives,  and  their 
children  to  beggary  and  distress." 

"Your  proposal,"  was  the  American  colonel's 
spirited  reply,  "  we  absolutely  reject.  We  have 
taken  up  arms  to  maintain  our  rights,  and  we 
will  not  lay  them  down  until  success  has  crowned 


1778.]         EXPEDITION   TO   BORDENTOWN.  199 

^ 

them,  or  we  have  met  an  honourable  death. 
Your  plan  of  arming  the  Tories  we  have  no  ob- 
jection to,  for  it  will  fill  our  arsenals  with  arms. 
Your  threat  to  'burn  and  destroy,  induces  me  to 
imagine  that  I  am  reading  the  orders  of  a  barba- 
rous Attila,  and  not  of  a  gentleman,  brave,  ge- 
nerous, and  polished.  If  executed,  it  can  only 
render  our  people  desperate,  and  increase  your 
foes  and  the  American  army." 

Not  choosing  to  risk  another  engagement, 
Mawhood  now  turned  his  whole  attention  to 
plundering  the  neighbouring  farmers.  Having 
thus  collected  an  immense  store  of  hay,  grain, 
cattle,  horses,  and  other  articles,  he  soon  after 
embarked  in  his  transports,,  and  returned  without 
molestation  to  Philadelphia. 

Early  in  May,  seven  hundred  British  troops 
were  sent  up  the  Delaware.  Landing  at  White 
Hill,  just  below  Bordentown,  they  burned  a  con- 
siderable number  of  vessels,  including  two  un- 
finished continental  frigates,  which  had  been  con- 
veyed to  that  place  for  safety.  After  remaining 
a  few  hours  in  Bordentown,  during  which  time 
they  destroyed  no  little  property,  and  murdered 
four  unresisting  prisoners,  the  British,  having 
collected  their  plunder,  re-embarked,  intending 
to  proceed  against  Trenton.  But  meeting  with 
unexpected  opposition  from  the  militia,  they  re- 
turned hastily  down  the  river  to  Philadelphia. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring,  Wash- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1778. 

ington  was  still  encamped  at  Valley  Forge,  wait- 
ing the  arrival  of  the  French  fleet,  which  was 
already  on  its  way  to  America.  Aware  of  this, 
Clinton,  fearing  that  the  Delaware  might  be 
blockaded,  meditated  an  evacuation  of  Phila- 
delphia. Rumours  of  such  an  intention  having 
reached  the  American  camp,  Washington  de- 
tached Lafayette,  with  two  thousand  chosen 
troops,  to  gain  intelligence,  and  to  annoy  the 
rear  of  Clinton,  should  he  put  his  rumoured  de- 
sign into  effect.  Lafayette  having  taken  a  mo- 
mentary position  at  Barren  Hill,  some  ten  miles 
in  advance  of  the  main  army,  the  British  com- 
mander, observing  his  isolated  situation,  sent  a 
much  stronger  force  to  cut  him  off.  But,  dis- 
covering his  peril,  the  young  and  gallant  French- 
man, by  a  well-timed  and  dexterous  movement, 
gained  a  position  which  the  surprise  party  would 
not  venture  to  assail. 

At  length  the  intention  of  Clinton  to  abandon 
Philadelphia  and  retreat  through  the  Jerseys  to 
New  York,  became  evident.  Washington's  plans 
were  soon  laid.  While  Maxwell,  with  the  New 
Jersey  brigade,  having  united  with  the  militia 
under  Dickinson,  was  engaged  in  breaking  down 
bridges  and  felling  trees  across  the  roads  to  im- 
pede the  progress  of  the  enemy,  the  commander- 
in-chief  himself  prepared  to  lead  the  main  army 
in  pursuit,  when  they  should  take  up  their  line 
of  march. 


1778.]  KETREAT    OF   CLINTON.  201 

Having  sent  part  of  his  baggage  -and  stores, 
together  with  many  loyalist  non-combatants,  by 
sea  to  New  York,  Clinton  left  Philadelphia  on 
the  18th  of  June,  and,  with  ten  thousand  well- 
appointed  troops,  commenced  his  retreat  across 
the  Jerseys.  The  weather  was  hot  and  rainy. 
Harassed  in  front  by  Dickinson  and  Maxwell, 
and  incumbered  with  a  long  line  of  provision 
and  baggage  wagons,  the  enemy  moved  slowly, 
spending  six  days  in  reaching  Lnlaystown,  four- 
teen miles  south-east  of  Trenton. 

Meanwhile  Washington  was  not  idle.  Cross- 
ing the  Delaware  at  Corryell's  Ferry,  now  Lam- 
bertville,  he  immediately  detached  Colonel  Mor- 
gan, with  a  select  corps  of  six  hundred  men,  to 
reinforce  Maxwell,  and  marched  himself,  with 
the  main  body,  toward  Princeton.  Doubtful  as 
to  the  road  Clinton  would  follow,  he  halted  at 
Hopewell,  five  miles  from  Princeton,  for  the 
threefold  purpose  of  resting  his  troops,  securing 
his  choice  of  a  position,  and  of  ascertaining 
what  course  the  enemy  would  take. 

Washington's  earnest  desire  was  to  give  the 
enemy  battle ;  and  his  men,  though  reduced  by 
sickness  and  privation,  badly  equipped,  and 
barely  outnumbering  the  British,  were  equally 
eager  for  the  contest.  But  two  councils  of  war, 
in  which  the  wishes  of  the  chief  were  seconded 
by  Lafayette,  Greene,  Wayne,  and  Cadwallader 
only  out  of  fourteen  general  officers,  decid- 


202  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1778. 

ed  it  advisable  that  nothing  more  should  be 
attempted  than  to  harass  the  progress  of  the 
enemy.  At  the  head  of  those  opposed  to  Wash- 
ington's plan,  was  Lee,  whose  exchange  had  been 
recently  effected,  and  who  held  the  second  rank 
in  the  continental  service.  Taking  a  wide  view 
of  the  circumstances,  Washington  resolved,  how- 
ever, upon  his  own  responsibility,  to  take  such 
measures  as  might  induce  a  general  engage- 
ment. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  Maxwell  was  further  re- 
inforced ;  and,  during  the  following  day,  the 
main  army  advanced  to  Kingston.  Here  certain 
intelligence  was  received  of  Clinton's  design  to 
march  by  way  of  Monmouth  Court  House  to 
Sandy  Hook.  One  thousand  additional  troops 
were  immediately  sent  forward  to  join  those  al- 
ready hanging  upon  the  British  rear.  As  Lee, 
upon  whom  the  command  of  this  division  by 
right  devolved,  declined  accepting  it,  Washing- 
ton intrusted  it  to  Lafayette,  ordering  him  to 
press  upon  Clinton's  left,  and  crowd  him  down 
into  the  low  grounds. 

The  same  evening  the  main  body  moved  on  to 
Cranberry.  A  heavy  rain-storm  and  excessive 
heat  delayed  its  march  on  the  26th,  but  that  night 
the  advanced  corps  rested  within  five  miles  of 
the  British  rear. 

Clinton  having  now  brought  his  best  troops  to 
the  rear,  Washington  determined  to  reinforce 


1778. J  RETREAT    OF    LEE.  203 

still  farther  his  leading  column.  Accordingly, 
on  the  27th,  Lee  was  sent  forward  with  two 
brigades.  He,  of  course,  took  command  of  the 
whole  advanced  division,  now  swelled  to  about 
five  thousand  men.  That  evening  the  commander- 
in-chief  encamped  within  three  miles  of  English- 
town,  where  Lee  was  resting  with  the  advance. 

Clinton  at  the  same  time  took  a  strong  po- 
sition on  the  high  grounds  in  the  vicinity  of 
Monmouth  Court  House,  or  Freehold ;  his  right 
resting  in  the  borders  of  a  small  wood,  while  a 
dense  and  somewhat  extensive  forest  sheltered 
his  left.  Another  wood  protected  his  entire 
front.  Twelvej  miles  distant  were  the  Heights 
of  Middletown,  which  he  was  anxious  to  gain ; 
for  if  he  could  once  reach  them,  he  knew  that  he 
would  be  unassailable. 

In  the  gray  of  Sunday  morning,  the  28th  of 
June,  Washington  received  information  that  the 
enemy  were  marching  off  toward  Middleton 
Heights.  Anticipating  this,  he  had  ordered  the 
advance  to  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  no- 
tice. Promising  to  support  him  with  the  whole 
army,  he  directed  Lee  to  assault  the  British 
rear,  "unless  there  should  be  powerful  reasons 
to  the  contrary."  Lee  at  once  pushed  on  to 
obey;  but,  confused  by  contradictory  intelli- 
gence, it  was  ten  o'clock  before  he  came  up  with 
the  enemy.  Received  by  a  galling  fire,  his 
troops,  after  a  series  of  disastrous  manoeuvres, 


204  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [17T8. 

fell  back,  and  no  steps  being  taken  to  check  this 
retrograde  movement,  the  whole  division  was 
soon  in  full  retreat. 

Washington  was,  in  the  mean  time,  hurrying 
up  with  the  main  army.  About  noon,  after  a 
march  of  five  miles,  he  met  the  broken  regiments 
of  the  advance.  His  indignation  was  extreme. 
Riding  to  the  rear,  he  encountered  Lee.  Ab- 
ruptly, and  in  a  tone  of  stern  reproach,  he  asked 
the  meaning  of  the  confusion  and  retreat  he  be- 
held. Lee  replied  with  haughtiness  ;  when,  ut- 
tering a  sharp  reprimand,  Washington  rode  dis- 
dainfully by,  rallied  the  flying  troops,  placed 
them  in  line,  ordered  Lee  to  take  command,  and 
hurried  back  to  form  and  bring  up  the  main 
division. 

The  aspect  of  affairs  was  now  changed.  Though 
furiously  attacked  by  the  enemy,  Lee  maintained 
his  ground  until  the  second  American  line  was 
formed,  when  he  effected  an  orderly  retreat. 
Washington's  second  line  was  next  assailed ;  but, 
as  the  British  crossed  a  morass  in  front,  Stir- 
ling's artillery,  opening  from  the  left,  and  aided 
by  several  infantry  corps,  effectually  checked 
their  advance  in  that  direction.  Repulsed  at 
this  point,  the  enemy  turned  upon  Greene,  who 
commanded  the  right  wing  ;  but  here  again  they 
were  met  by  artillery,  the  fire  from  which  swept 
their  files,  and  a  second  time  brought  them  to  a 
stand.  At  this  juncture  Wayne  came  up  with  a 


1778.]  DESERTION   OF   HESSIANS.  205 

body  of  infantry,  attacked  the  assailants  in  front, 
and  drove  them  back  to  the  position  they  had 
occupied  in  the  morning. 

The  day  was  now  far  advanced.  Both  armies 
were  utterly  exhausted.  During  the  contest  the 
heat  had  been  excessive;  so  much  so,  indeed, 
that  numbers  of  the  combatants  on  both  sides 
had  fallen  upon  the  field  dead,  without  a  wound. 
"Washington,  however,  determined  to  renew  the 
fight  at  once,  and  become  the  assailant  in  turn. 
But  before  his  plans  could  be  perfectly  arranged, 
the  night  came  on,  and  further  operations  were 
postponed  until  the  next  day.  The  whole  army 
laid  upon  their  arms  on  the  field  of  battle,  ready 
to  make  a  new  effort  for  the  victory  they  had  so 
nearly  won.  But  when  the  morning  dawned, 
Clinton  was  many  miles  upon  his  way  to  the 
Highlands  of  Nevisink.  Pursuit  was  vain. 
Thus  ended  what  narrowly  missed  being  one  of 
the  most  momentous  battles  of  the  War  of  In- 
dependence. 

Upon  the  field  the  enemy  left  four  officers  and 
two  hundred  and  forty-five  privates  dead,  and 
their  total  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  could  not 
have  been  less  than  four  hundred.  That  of  the 
Americans  was  three  hundred  and  thirty-two,  of 
which  seventy  were  killed  outright.  Indepen- 
dently, however,  of  their  loss  in  the  action,  the 
British  were  materially  weakened  during  their  re- 
treat, when  full  a  thousand  of  their  number,  prin- 

18 


206  HISTORY    OF   NEW    JERSEY.  [1778. 

cipally  Hessians,  who  had  married  in  Philadel- 
phia, took  occasion  to  desert. 

Clinton  safely  reached  the  Highlands  of 
Middletown,  whence,  in  a  few  days,  he  marched 
to  Sandy  Hook.  From  his  position  at  this  place, 
he  found  a  speedy  passage  to  New  York  in  the 
fleet  of  Admiral  Howe,  who  had  just  arrived 
from  Philadelphia  with  the  stores  and  baggage, 
narrowly  escaping  the  French  squadron,  under 
D'Estaing,  which  appeared  off  the  Delaware  a 
few  days  later. 

Lee's  conduct  during  the  recent  action  was 
severely  condemned ;  more  so,  perhaps,  than  it 
justly  deserved.  Though  the  indecisive  charac- 
ter of  the  hattle  was  properly  to  be  attributed 
to  his  retreat,  Washington  would  probably  have 
overlooked  the  whole  affair ;  but  the  pride  of 
Lee  had  been  wounded  by  the  public  rebuke  of 
his  chief,  and  the  day  after  the  action  he  wrote 
Washington  a  highly  disrespectful  letter.  Wash- 
ington's reply  elicited  a  second  letter,  still  more 
arrogant  in  its  tone.  Lee  was  presently  arrested 
and  tried  by  a  court-martial,  for  disobedience  of 
orders,  for  making  an  unnecessary,  disorderly, 
and  shameful  retreat,  and  for  writing  two  disre- 
spectful letters  to  the  commander-in-chief.  He 
defended  himself  with  remarkable  ability;  but 
the  court,  acquitting  him  of  having  made  a 
"shameful"  retreat,  found  a  verdict  of  guilty  as 
to  the  remaining  charges,  and  sentenced  him  to 


1779.]          ARRIVAL   OF   FRENCH   FLEET.  207 

be  suspended  for  a  year.  Scarcely  had  the  term 
of  his  suspension  expired,  when  Lee  addressed 
an  insolent  letter  to  Congress.  For  this  he  pre- 
sently apologized,  but  Congress  at  once  dismissed 
him  from  the  service. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

D'Estaing  arrives  with  a  French  fleet — Sullivan's  unsuccessful 
attempt  against  Newport — Massacre  of  Baylor's  cavalry  re- 
giment near  Tappan — British  expedition  against  Little  Egg 
Harbour — Chestnut  Neck  burned — Pulaski's  legion  sur- 
prised in  the  vicinity  of  Tuckerton — New  legislature  elected 
— Livingston  re-chosen  governor — Articles  of  confederation 
approved — French  fleet  sails  for  the  West  Indies — Campaign 
of  1779 — Difficulty  with  the  Jersey  brigade — Capture  of 
Stony  Point  by  the  British — Recaptured  by  Wayne — Major 
Lee  surprises  the  English  garrison  at  Paulus  Hook — Sulli- 
van's expedition  against  the  Indians  of  New  York — Fierce 
partisan  contest  in  New  Jersey — Operations  in  the  south — 
Financial  difficulties  of  Congress — New  Jersey  legislature 
orders  nine  millions  of  dollars  to  be  raised — Distress  of  the 
American  army  at  Morristown — Washington's  requisition 
upon  New  Jersey  for  supplies — 'Unsuccessful  attack  upon 
Staten  Island. 

SOON  after  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  Washing- 
ton crossed  the  Hudson  and  encamped  at  White 
Plains.  Learning  that  D'Estaing  had  arrived 
with  a  fleet  and  four  thousand  troops,  he  con- 
certed with  him  an  attack  upon  New  York. 
Forced  to  abandon  this  enterprise,  Washington 


208  HISTORY   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  [1779. 

directed  his  attention  toward  Newport,  where 
Pigot,  with  a  large  body  of  the  enemy,  was  now 
stationed.  Having  collected  New  England  mi- 
litia and  continentals  to  the  number  of  ten 
thousand,  Sullivan,  to  whom  the  attack  upon 
Newport  was  confided,  only  waited  for  the  co- 
operation of  D'Estaing.  But  as  the  French 
admiral,  who  had  put  to  sea  in  hopes  of  meeting 
the  British  squadron,  was  about  to  engage  with 
Howe,  a  fierce  tempest  sprung  up,  separated  the 
contending  fleets,  and  drove  that  of  France, 
badly  damaged,  into  Boston.  In  the  mean  time, 
Sullivan  had  advanced  to  within  a  short  distance 
of  Newport.  Here  he  Teceived  intelligence  of 
D'Estaing's  ill-fortune,  and  was  compelled,  much 
to  his  mortification,  to  abandon  his  works  and 
retreat  to  the  main  land. 

Nearly  a  month  later,  in  September,  two 
columns  of  the  enemy,  conjointly  eight  thousand 
strong,  left  New  York  and  ascended  the  Hudson 
by  either  bank,  with  the  twofold  design  of  col- 
lecting forage,  and  of  diverting  attention  from  a 
proposed  expedition  against  Little  Egg  Harbour. 
On  the  night  of  the  27th,  the  advanced  corps 
of  the  western  column,  commanded  by  Major- 
General  Grey,  moving  with  silent  celerity,  suc- 
ceeded in  surprising  a  party  of  American  light- 
horse,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Baylor,  who 
were  sleeping  soundly  in  a  barn  near  Tappan,  in 
the  county  of  Bergen.  So  suddenly  and  unex- 


1778.]  MASSACRE   OF   TROOPS.  209 

pectedly  did  the  British  appear,  that  Baylor's 
men  were  unable  either  to  fly  or  to  resist.  They 
supplicated  for  quarter;  but  were  bayoneted 
almost  without  mercy.  Out  of  one  hundred  and 
four  privates  thirty-seven  only  escaped.  Of 
the  remainder,  twenty-seven  were  killed  and 
wounded ;  among  the  latter  of  whom  was  Baylor 
himself.  By  the  humanity  of  one  of  Grey's 
captains,  forty  were  made  prisoners,  in  disobe- 
dience to  previous  orders  to  allow  no  quarter. 
This  massacre,  as  it  was  called,  stirred  up  a  feel- 
ing of  fierce  indignation  against  the  British, 
who,  however,  apologized  for  it,  by  pleading  the 
excitement  of  a  surprise  and  a  night  attack. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  southern  expedition 
having  landed  at  Little  Egg  Harbour,  on  the 
5th  of  October,  destroyed  thirty  prize  vessels 
lying  in  port,  burned  the  village  of  Chestnut 
Neck,  and  ravaged  all  the  surrounding  country. 
To  check  this  movement,  Pulaski's  legion  had 
been  ordered  into  the  neighbourhood ;  but  it  did 
not  arrive  until  three  days  after  the  landing  of 
the  British.  While  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of 
Tuckerton,  Pulaski's  picket  guard  was  surprised 
through  the  treachery  of  a  deserter,  and  every 
man  composing  it — thirty  in  all — put  to  death. 
Gathering  up  his  cavalry,  the  fiery  Pole  started 
in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  who  had  immediately 
begun  a  hasty  retreat,  but  was  unable  to  over- 
take them.  So  closely  did  he  push  them,  how- 
18* 


210  HISTORY   OF   XEW   JERSEY.  [1778. 

ever,  that  the  only  sloop  of  war  in  the  expedi- 
tion having  got  aground,  was  obliged  to  be  set 
on  fire  and  abandoned,  to  prevent  it  from  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  Americans. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  a  new  legislature  met 
at  Trenton.  Having  again  chosen  Livingston 
governor,  both  houses,  in  committee  of  the  whole, 
proceeded  to  a  renewed  consideration  of  the 
"Articles  of  Confederation,"  to  which  Congress 
had  once  more  urged  their  attention.  The  sub- 
ject was  earnestly  discussed  for  nearly  a  fort- 
night. Declaring  that,  "every  separate  state 
interest  ought  to  be  postponed  for  the  public 
good,"  the  committee  rose,  and,  by  their  advice, 
the  delegates  of  New  Jersey  in  Congress  were 
immediately  instructed  to  subscribe  to  the  new 
plan  of  union.  At  the  same  time  the  committee, 
in  their  report,  maintained  that  "the  objections 
.lately  stated  and  sent  to  Congress  were  found- 
ed in  justice  and  equity,"  and  were  of  the 
"most  essential  moment  to  the  interests"  of 
their  constituents.  For  the  removal  of  these 
objections,  they  still  relied  firmly  upon  the 
"  candour  and  justice  of  the  several  states." 

This  subject  having  been  thus  quietly  disposed 
of,  a  bill  was  presently  passed  to  raise  the  sum 
of  one  hundred  thousand  pounds ;  after  which 
the  legislature  took  a  recess. 

The  campaign  in  the  north  was  now,  in  effect, 
at  an  end.  D'Estaing,  with  the  French  squad- 


1778.]     MOVEMENTS  IN  THE  SOUTH.      211 

ron,  left  Boston  for  the  West  Indies  on  the  3d 
of  November.  Upon  the  same  day,  five  thou- 
sand British  troops,  escorted  by  a  formidable 
fleet,  sailed  from  New  York  with  a  like  destina- 
tion. Toward  the  close  of  the  month,  a  second 
British  detachment,  three  thousand  five  hundred 
strong,  was  sent  from  New  York  to  act  against 
Georgia.  Having  formed  a  junction  with  the 
forces  of  the  governor  of  Florida,  they  cap- 
tured Savannah,  and  in  a  brief  period  overran 
the  whole  state. 

Meanwhile,  finding  that  a  successful  attack 
upon  New  York,  even  with  its  greatly  reduced 
garrison,  would  be  utterly  impossible,  Washing- 
ton went  into  winter  quarters  at  Middlebrook, 
hutting  his  troops  in  a  line  of  cantonments, 
reaching  from  Danbury  in  Connecticut,  across 
the  Hudson  at  West  Point,  to  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey. 

Already  with  a  strong  foothold  in  the  south- 
ern states,  the  British,  retaining  the  islands 
about  New  York,  were  henceforth  to  exhibit  their 
more  active  and  important  efforts  in  the  south. 
Yet  the  force  under  Clinton  at  New  York  and 
Newport,  was  still  not  less  than  sixteen  thousand 
men,  able  at  any  moment,  with  the  assistance 
of  a  powerful  fleet,  to  concentrate  at  either 
point.  Scarcely  equal  to  the  enemy  in  number, 
the  troops  under  Washington  could  not  be 
readily  brought  to  bear,  with  any  prospect  of 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY  [1779. 

success,  either  upon  Newport  or  New  York.  In 
1779,  consequently,  the  war,  not  yet  fully  open- 
ed at  the  south,  in  the  north  consisted  chiefly 
of  a  series  of  skirmishes. 

Early  in  the  year,  however,  an  expedition  was 
planned  against  the  Six  Nations,  whose  recent  at- 
tacks upon  the  border  settlements  of  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania  called  for  prompt  and  severe  re- 
taliation. The  force  to  be  sent  into  the  Indian 
country,  with  orders  to  burn  and  devastate  their 
villages  and  cornfields,  consisted  of  five  thousand 
men,  under  the  general  directions  of  Sullivan. 

While  this  army  was  being  concentrated,  pre- 
paratory to  its  final  march,  alarming  symptoms 
of  discontent  appeared  in  Maxwell's  New  Jersey 
brigade,  which  formed  a  considerable  part  of 
the  proposed  expedition.  For  more  than  a  year 
these  troops  had  been  vainly  memorializing  the 
legislature  with  regard  to  their  extremely  neces- 
sitous condition.  In  April,  1779,  Maxwell  ad- 
dressed two  highly  caustic  letters  to  the  assembly 
on  the  subject ;  and,  soon  afterward,  wearied 
out  with  delay,  the  officers  of  one  of  the  regi- 
ments, in  a  brief  but  pithy  memorial,  called  upon 
the  legislature  for  immediate  relief.  Wearing 
the  appearance  of  a  threat,  this  memorial  placed 
the  legislature  in  a  disagreeable  quandary,  from 
which  it  seemed  scarcely  possible  that  they 
could  extricate  themselves  without  sacrificing 
either  their  dignity  or  a  number  of  their  best 


1779.]  SURPRISE   OP   STONY   POINT.  213 

officers.  But  both  were  saved  by  a  compromise. 
Promised  that  their  wants  should  be  immediately 
supplied,  the  complainants  withdrew  their  me- 
morial, and  the  legislature  presently  voted,  and 
paid  at  once,  the  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds  to 
each  officer,  and  forty  dollars  to  each  private. 

Preparations  for  the  Indian  expedition  now 
went  on.  On  the  22d  of  August,  the  whole 
army  was  concentrated  where  the  town  of 
Athens,  in  Pennsylvania,  now  stands. 

Meanwhile,  having  ascended  the  Hudson  and 
captured  the  American  works  at  Verplank's  and 
Stony  Point,  Clinton,  early  in  July,  despatched 
a  marauding  expedition  against  Connecticut, 
hoping  by  this  means  to  entice  Washington  from 
his  stronghold  in  the  Highlands.  New  Haven 
was  plundered,  and  Norwalk,  Fairfield,  and 
Green  Farms  wantonly  burned.  An  attack  was 
about  being  made  upon  New  London,  when  the 
enemy  were  suddenly  recalled  by  intelligence  of 
Wayne's  brilliant  and  successful  assault  on  Stony 
Point,  during  the  night  of  the  16th  of  July. 
The  British  ascending  the  river  in  force,  Wash- 
ington found  it  necessary  to  again  abandon  the 
recovered  post,  after  dismantling  its  fortifications 
and  removing  its  artillery*and  stores. 

Wayne's  surprise  of  Stony  Point  was  present- 
ly followed  by  an  enterprise  equally  as  bold. 
While  Lee,  with  his  legionary  corps,  was  watch- 
ing the  movements  of  Clinton  on  the  Hudson, 


214  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1779. 

he  received  intelligence  that  suggested  to  him 
the  possibility  of  carrying  off  the  British  garri- 
son at  Paulus  Hook,  on  the  Jersey  shore,  imme- 
diately opposite  New  York  city.  The  attempt 
was  one  of  great  danger,  and  could  only  be  suc- 
cessful by  secrecy  and  celerity.  Lee's  plans 
were  well  laid,  however,  and  he  possessed  the 
daring  to  execute  them.  On  the  night  of  the 
18th  of  August,  the  assault  was  made.  The 
enemy  were  taken  by  complete  surprise.  New 
York  being  immediately  alarmed,  Lee  could  not 
stop  to  destroy  the  works ;  but  he  effected  a  suc- 
cessful, though  hazardous  retreat,  carrying  off 
with  him  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  enemy  as 
prisoners.  This  feat  was  highly  complimented 
by  Washington,  and  reflected  much  honour  upon 
the  corps  by  which  it  was  accomplished. 

At  length,  on  the  26th  of  August,  the  Indian 
expedition,  under  Sullivan,  commenced  its '"march 
up  the  Chemung  branch  of  the  Susquehanna. 
On  the  morning  of  the  29th,  at  Conewawa,  now 
Elmira,  about  fifteen  hundred  Indians  and  Tories, 
headed  by  Brant  and  Butler,  were  discovered  in 
a  strong  position  on  a  rising  ground,  the  approach 
to  which  in  front  was  defended  by  a  breast- 
work half  a  mile  long.  A  brief  but  spirited 
action  ensued.  Outflanked  by  Poor's  New 
Hampshire  regiment,  and  vigorously  assailed  in 
front  by  Maxwell  and  Hand,  the  enemy  aban- 


1779.]  PARTISAN   WARFARE.  215 

doned  their  works  and  fled  precipitately  and  in 
extreme  confusion. 

Laying  waste  the  country  in  his  route,  Sullivan 
crossed  over  to  the  Gennessee  valley,  then  the  cen- 
tre of  the  Indian  settlements.  Two  weeks  were 
spent  in  desolating  this  delightful  region.  Eight- 
teen  villages,  many  thousand  bushels  of  corn,  and 
numerous  orchards  were  utterly  destroyed.  The 
blow  was  a  grievous  one  to  the  Indians,  many  of 
whom  never  returned  to  the  homes  from  which 
they  were  thus  expelled.  For  a  brief  period 
their  activity  was  wholly  prostrated ;  but  the  re- 
collection of  the  chastisement  they  had  received 
was  soon  obliterated  by  a  keen  desire  for  ven- 
geance, and  they  began  again  their  attacks  upon 
the  frontier  settlements. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring,  New 
Jersey  had  been  the  scene  of  a  fearful -partis  an 
warfare.  Marauding  bands  of  Tories  from  New 
York  and  Staten  Island  roamed  through  the 
eastern  counties,  plundering,  capturing,  and 
murdering  the  unarmed  inhabitants  ;  in  some  in- 
stances not  sparing  even  the  women  and  children. 
To  aggravate  the  sufferings  thus  inflicted  upon 
the  people,  parties  of  freebooters,  sallying  out 
from  their  hiding-places  in  the  pines,  robbed  and 
murdered  all  that  fell  into  their  power,  with 
scarcely  any  regard  to  the  distinctions  of  Whig 
and  Tory. 

But  the  Americans  did  not  remain  idle.  Tories 


216  HISTORY   OF   XEW   JERSEY.  [1779. 

and  pine-robbers  were  alike  objects  of  their  san- 
guinary vengeance.  Against  the  organized  ex- 
peditions of  the  former,  the  militia  were  prompt 
to  rally,  frequently  beating  them  in  fair  fight. 
Many  of  the  prominent  freebooters,  after  having 
made  their  names  a  terror,  were  hunted  out, 
captured,  and  hung  in  chains.  Others  were  shot 
down  like  wild  beasts,, and  left  unburied  where 
they  met  their  death.  So  fiend-like  were  the 
atrocities  they  had  committed,  that  none  ex- 
pected and  none  received  mercy. 

In  the  mean  time,  Prevost,  commander  of  the 
British  troops  in  Georgia^  with  about  three  thou- 
sand regulars  and  Indians,  made  an  attack  upon 
Charleston,  in  South  Carolina.  Repulsed  by 
Lincoln,  the  American  general,  he  returned  to 
Savannah,  late  in  June,  enriched  with  a  great 
quantity  of  plunder. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  D'Estaing  returning 
from  a  successful  cruise  in  the  West  Indies,  ap- 
peared before  Savannah,  which  he  summoned  to 
surrender.  Presently  joined  by  Lincoln,  a  formal 
siege  was  opened,  with  every  prospect  of  success. 
But  a  premature  assault,  on  the  9th  of  October, 
having  resulted  in  the  repulse  of  the  allied  forces, 
with  a  loss  of  nearly  nine  hundred  men,  the 
siege  was  abandoned,  and  D'Estaing  returned 
to  the  West  Indies. 

The  intelligence  of  these  events  determined 
both  commanders  upon  strengthening  their  re- 


1779.]  EEQUISITION   FOR    SUPPLIES.  217. 

spective  armies  in  the  south.  Leaving  New 
York  in  charge  of  General  Knyphausen,  Clinton, 
late  in  December,  sailed  in  person  for  Savannah ; 
while  a  considerable  number  of  troops  was  des- 
patched by  Washington  in  the  same  direction. 

From  a  late  day  in  October,  the  legislature  of 
New  Jersey  had  been  in  session,  anxiously  deli- 
berating upon  the  involved  condition  of  the 
finances  of  the  state,  and  of  Congress.  In  No- 
vember, resolutions  were  received  from  Congress, 
recommending  the  several  states  to  raise  their 
respective  quota  of  money,  for  the  purpose  of 
redeeming  the  continental  currency,  which,  in 
spite  of  every  effort  to  the  contrary,  had-  depre- 
ciated almost  to  worthlessness.  In  compliance 
with  this  recommendation,  nine  millions  of  dol- 
lars— estimated  according  to  the  value  of  the 
currency  of  the  period — were  ordered  to  be 
raised  in  New  Jersey,  by  October  of  the  ensuing 
year. 

For  the  relief  of  his  army,  which  was  almost 
reduced  to  a  starving  condition,  Washington, 
from  his  winter  quarters  at  Morristown,  presently 
issued  a  requisition  couched  in  somewhat  harsher 
terms.  Each  county  in  the  state  was  called  upon 
to  furnish  the  camp  with  a  certain  quantity  of 
flour  and  meat.  Urging  the  invincible  necessity 
for  these  supplies,  the  commander-in-chief  stated 
that  he  would  be  compelled  to  use  force  in  ob- 
taining them  if  they  were  not  furnished  volun- 

19 


11       HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1779. 

tarily.  But,  greatly  to  their  honour,  the  state 
authorities  took  the  matter  in  hand.  The  requi- 
sition was  speedily  answered,  and  the  employ- 
ment of  force  rendered  unnecessary. 

Thus  relieved  from  the  pressure  of  immediate 
want,  Washington  again  set  on  foot  an  expedi- 
tion against  Staten  Island,  where  twelve  hun- 
dred British  troops  were  quartered  for  the  winter. 
A  passage  to  the  island  was  now  easy,  even  for 
artillery,  over  the  ice,  which  the  almost  unparal- 
leled severity  of  the  season  had  formed  between 
it  and  the  main  land.  Every  arrangement  had 
been  completed,  and  Stirling,  in  command  of  the 
expedition,  was  about  to  leave  the  shore,  when 
intelligence  was  received  that  the  enemy,  rein- 
forced from  New  York,  were  fully  prepared  for 
successful  resistance.  Consequently,  three  days 
afterward,  on  the  17th  of  January,  1780,  Stir- 
ling deemed  it  advisable  to  fall  back  upon  the 
main  army,  which  he  did,  not  unmolested,  how- 
ever, by  the  British  cavalry,  from  the  charges 
of  which  he  suffered  a  slight  loss  in  the  early 
part  of  his  retreat. 


1780.]    SURRENDER  OF  CHARLESTON.      219 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Campaign  of  1780 — South  Carolina  invaded  and  overrun  by 
the  British — Discontent  in  Washington's  army — Knyphausen 
lands  at  Elizabethtown  Point — Marches  toward  Springfield 
— Burns  the  village  of  Connecticut  Farms — Retires  to  the 
Point — Is  joined  by  Clinton — Patriotism  of  the  Rev.  James 
Caldwell — He  becomes  obnoxious  to  the  Tories — His  wife  is 
murdered  by  a  refugee,  during  the  attack  on  Connecticut 
Farms — He  is  shot  by  a  sentinel  at  Elizabethtown  Point — • 
Clinton  advances  against  Springfield — Is  met  by  Greene — 
Springfield  burned — Clinton  retires  to  Staten  Island — Arri- 
val of  Rochambeau — Gloomy  opening  of  the  year  1781 — 
Revolt  of  the  Pennsylvania  line — Part  of  the  New  Jersey 
brigade  mutinies — Mutineers  shot — Cornwallis  in  the  south 
— Battle  of  Cowpens — Battle  of  Guilford  Court  House — 
Green  partially  recovers  South  Carolina — Cornwallis  enters 
Virginia — Fortifies  himself  at  Yorktown — Is  besieged  by  the 
allied  armies,  and  the  fleet  of  De  Grasse — He  capitulates — 
Prospect  of  peace — Tory  outrages  in  New  Jersey — Murder 
of  Captain  Huddy — Peace. 

THE  campaign  of  1780  opened  in  the  south. 
On  the  12th  of  May,  Charleston  was  surrendered 
to  the  British  forces  under  Clinton,  after  the 
garrison  had  obstinately  sustained  a  vigorous 
siege  of  more  than  a  month's  duration.  By  the 
middle  of  June,  the  whole  of  South  Carolina  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Leaving  Coruwallis 
in  charge  of  the  re-established  royal  government, 
Clinton  returned  to  New  York. 

Meanwhile  Washington  was  struggling  to  put 


220  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1780. 

the  northern  troops  in  a  condition  to  co-operate 
with  the  French  fleet  and  army,  which  were  ex- 
pected to  arrive  early  in  the  summer.  In  per- 
forming this  duty,  he  found  many  difficulties  to 
overcome.  Scantily  supplied,  and  poorly  paid 
in  a  depreciated  currency,  the  troops  were  filled 
with  discontent.  So  alarming,  indeed,  was  the 
spirit  of  insubordination  they  exhibited,  that,  at 
one  time,  it  seemed  doubtful  whether  they  could 
be  prevented  from  disbanding. 

Highly  coloured  statements  with  regard  to  the 
tendencies  of  this  discontent  were  carried  into 
New  York,  and  along  with  them  others,  greatly 
exaggerating  some  few  complaints  of  the  people 
of  New  Jersey,  occasioned  by  Washington's  late 
requisition.  Hoping  to  win  over  the  dissatisfied 
troops  and  people  to  the  British  standard,  Knyp- 
hausen,  on  the  6th  of  June,  landed  five  thousand 
men  at  Elizabethtown  Point,  and  advanced 
through  the  country  toward  Springfield.  Every- 
where, however,  he  met  evidences  that  he  had 
been  deceived.  The  militia  were  prompt  to  take 
up  arms  against  him  ;  and  at  Connecticut  Farms, 
four  miles  from  Elizabethtown,  he  was  compelled 
to  order  a  halt.  Incensed  by  the  unexpected 
opposition  they  had  received,  his  soldiers  fired 
this  beautiful  little  village,  which,  together  with 
its  church  and  parsonage,  was  reduced  to  ashes. 
Washington  soon  after  appearing  in  force, 
Knyphausen  fell  back  to  Elizabethtown  Point, 


1780.]  REV.    JAMES    CALDWELL.  221 

where  he  was.  presently  joined  by  Clinton,  with 
six  thousand'additional  troops. 

During  the  halt  of  the  British  at  Connecticut 
Farms,  an  outrage  was  perpetrated  that  thrilled 
the  entire  confederacy  with  horror  and  indig- 
nation. 

Prominent  among  the  American  patriots  was 
the  Rev.  James  Caldwell,  pastor  of  the  Presby- . 
terian  church  at  Elizabethtown.  Of  a  fiery,  en- 
ergetic nature,  and  an  enthusiastic  lover  of 
liberty,  he  had,  at  the  opening  of  the  War  of 
Independence,  ardently  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
colonies.  Elected  chaplain  of  the  Jersey  bri- 
gade, his  zeal  and  activity  won  for  him  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  the  commander-in- 
chief,  by  whom  he  was  presently  appointed  to 
the  commissary  department.  Faithfully  per- 
forming his  public  duties,  he  did  not  neglect 
those  of  his  religious  mission.  A  pure  Christian, 
an  ardent  patriot,  and  a  practical  philanthropist, 
he  soon  became  a  general  and  well-known  fa- 
vourite with  the  army  and  the  people. 

But  the  same  qualities  that  gained  him  the 
love  of  the  Americans,  made  him  a  conspicuous 
object  of  hatred  to  the  enemy.  To  the  Tories, 
especially,  he  became  extremely  obnoxious,  and 
they  offered  large  rewards  for  his  capture. 
When  the  village  of  Connecticut  Farms  was  de- 
stroyed, his  church  and  parsonage  were  the  first 
buildings  to  which  the  torch  was  applied.  The 

19* 


222  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1780. 

night  previous,  Caldwell,  hearing  of  the  enemy's 
approach,  had  proceeded  to  Washington's  quar- 
ters, having  first  endeavoured  in  yain  to  induce 
his  wife,  a  most  excellent  and  exemplary  woman, 
to  accompany  him.  Trusting  that  her  sex  and 
unprotected  condition  would  save  her  house  from 
*  pillage  and  herself  from  insult,  Mrs.  Caldwell, 
as  the  enemy  entered  the  village,  retired  to  h«r 
room,  and  there,  surrounded  by  her  children, 
and  with  an  infant  in  her  arms,  was  engaged  in 
prayer,  when  a  private  of  one  of  the  loyalist 
brigades  came  to  the  window,  and  discharged 
his  musket  into  the  group.  The  unfortunate 
mother  received  the  ball  in  her  breast,  and  in- 
stantly expired.  Her  lifeless  body  being  carried 
into  the  open  street,  the  house  was  then  fired. 

Late  in  the  evening  Caldwell  observed  two 
soldiers  whispering  together.  His  attention  was 
drawn  to  them  by  their  frequent  repetition  of 
"Mrs.  Caldwell,"  which  were  the  only  words  he 
could  hear.  Foreboding  evil,  he  besought  them 
to  tell  him  the  worst.  It  was  thus  he  gained 
the  first  tidings  of  the  tragic  fate  of  his  wife. 

For  more  than  a  year  subsequent  to  this 
mournful  event,  the  patriotic  minister  continued 
to  perform  his  religious  and  military  duties  with 
untiring  zeal.  Late  in  November,  1781,  he  was 
cut  off  in  the  vigour  of  manhood,  and  in  the 
midst  of  his  usefulness,  by  a  fatality  as  sad  as 
it  was  sudden  and  unexpected.  Having  gone  in 


1780.]  MURDER    OF    CALDWELL.  223 

his  carriage  to  Elizabethtown  Point,  to  meet  a 
young  lady  coming  on  a  visit  from  New  York, 
he  was  there  shot  through  the  heart  by  a  sentinel 
belonging  to  the  state  militia.  Morgan,  the 
sentinel  by  whom  he  was  killed,  was  immediately 
arrested  and  tried.  He  defended  himself  upon 
the  ground  of  having  done  no  more  than  his  duty. 
But  it  being  proved  in  court  that  he  had  been 
bribed  to  the  deed  by  Caldwell's  Tory  enemies, 
he  was  convicted  of  wilful  murder  and  hung. 

Marking  his  design  by  a  demonstration  against 
West  Point,  Clinton,  on  the  23d  of  June,  ad- 
vanced toward  Springfield  with  six  thousand 
men,  intending  to  make  an  attempt  to  carry  off 
the  American  stores  at  Morristown.  At  the 
bridge  over  the  Rahway,  a  small  stream  covering 
the  town,  he  was  met  by  Greene,  with  a  detach- 
ment of  fifteen  hundred  continentals,  mostly  of 
the  Jersey  Brigade,  and  a  few  militia.  After  a 
gallant  struggle,  overpowered  by  numbers,  the 
Americans  were  compelled  to  retreat,  which  they 
did,  though  in  good  order.  Retiring  to  some 
heights  a  short  distance  in  the  rear,  Green  took 
up  a  strong  position,  which  Clinton,  discouraged 
by  the  stern  resistance  he  had  already  en- 
countered, did  not  venture  to  assail.  Having 
reduced  the  thriving  village  of  Springfield  to 
ashes,  he  fell  back  to  Elizabethtown  Point,  and 
thence  crossed  over  to  Staten  Island.  In  this 


224'  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1781. 

battle  the  American  loss  was  seventy-two  in 
killed  and  wounded. 

Early  in  July  the  expected  French  fleet,  having 
on  board  six  thousand  troops  under  Count  de 
Rochambeau,  arrived  in  the  harbour  of  Newport ; 
but  as  both  army  and  fleet  were  immediately 
blockaded  by  a  superior  naval  force  of  the  Bri- 
tish, Washington's  plan  of  co-operating  with 
them  against  New  York  was  frustrated. 

This  third  unsuccessful  attempt  at  co-opera- 
tion with  their  French  allies,  the  disastrous  de- 
feat of  Gates  in  South  Carolina,  and  the  treason 
of  Benedict  Arnold,  following  each  other  in 
rapid  succession,  were  extremely  disheartening 
to  the  Americans,  and  with  them  the  close  of  the 
year  was  a  period  of  the  deepest  gloom  and 
anxiety. 

No  brighter,  but  rather  a  darker  prospect 
opened  with  1781.  Under  the  severest  trials 
the  soldiers  of  the  continental  army  had  hitherto 
exhibited  no  very  wide-spread  spirit  of  insubor- 
dination. But  toward  the  close  of  December, 
1780,  an  angry  discussion  sprung  up  in  the 
Pennsylvania  line,  quartered  near  Morristown, 
which  finally  led  to  an  alarming  revolt.  With 
their  pay  greatly  in  arrears,  and  suffering  se- 
verely from  a  want  of  proper  food,  clothing  and 
shelter,  the  troops  grew  discontented ;  and,  al- 
leging that  they  had  enlisted  for  three  years,  or 
the  war,  they  demanded  to  be  discharged  on  the 


1781.]      INSUBORDINATION   IN    THE   ARMY.      225 

31st  of  December,  when  the  three  years  of  »tlieir 
enlistment  would  expire.  The  truth,  however, 
seems  to  have  been,  as  contended  by  the  officers, 
that  the  terms  under  which  the  greater  portion 
enlisted,  were  for  three  years  and  the  war. 
Consequently  their  demand  was  refused. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1781,  thirteen  hundred 
men  paraded  under  arms,  declaring  their  inten- 
tion to  march  to  Congress,  and  obtain  redress 
for  their  grievances.  While  endeavouring  to  re- 
strain the  mutineers,  one  officer  was  killed,  and 
several  wounded.  Presenting  his  pistols  as  if 
about  to  fire,  Wayne  then  ordered  them  to  return 
to  their  duty.  Their  bayonets  were  immediately 
at  his  breast: — "We  love  you,  general,"  was 
their  declaration,  "  but  if  you  fire  you  are  a 
dead  man.  We  are  not  going  to  the  enemy. 
Should  they  approach,  we  will  fight  them  under 
your  orders.  But  we  are  resolved  to  obtain  our 
just  rights."  Under  the  leadership  of  a  board 
of  sergeants,  they  then  marched  off  to  Princeton, 
where  Wayne  vainly  attempted  to  bring  them  to 
terms. 

The  crisis  was  a  startling  one,  and  as  alarm- 
ing to  the  Americans  as  i^  was  gratifying  to  their 
enemies.  Informed  of  the  revolt,  Clinton  des- 
patched his  emissaries  to  the  camp  of  the  muti- 
neers, with  liberal  offers  to  induce  them  to  enter 
the  British  service.  But  these  agents  were  ar- 
rested, handed  over  to  Wayne,  and  presently 


226  HISTORY    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  [1781. 

shot  as  spies.  Patriotic  as  was  the  feeling  which 
in  this  case  guided  the  insurgents,  there  were 
yet  doubts  that  it  would  long  endure. 

Entertaining  these  doubts,  Congress  wisely 
bent  to  the  storm.  As  terms  of  accommodation, 
the  mutineers  were  offered,  and  presently  ac- 
cepted, the  discharge  of  those  enlisted  for  three 
years  or  the  war ;  certificates  for  the  deprecia- 
tion of  their  pay ;  the  promise  of  a  speedy  set- 
tlement of  all  arrearages ;  and  an  immediate 
supply  of  certain  articles  of  clothing.  They 
then  marched  to  Trenton,  where  almost  the 
whole  line  was  discharged,  without  consulting  the 
contracts  of  enlistment,  in  regard  to  which  it 
was  deemed  expedient  not  to  be  too  particular. 
Subsequently,  however,  these  documents  were 
examined,  when  it  was  ascertained  that,  of  the 
men  discharged,  the  greater  portion  had  engaged 
for  the  war. 

Scarcely  was  this  difficulty  surmounted,  when, 
stimulated  by  the  success  of  the  Pennsylvanians, 
a  part  of  the  Jersey  line,  stationed  at  Pornpton, 
rose  in  ai*ms,  and  advanced  similar  claims  for  re- 
dress of  grievances.  A  committee,  previously 
appointed  by  the  State  legislature,  offered  to  ex- 
amine into  their  claims,  if  the  mutineers  would 
submit  to  their  officers.  Some  returned  to  their 
duty,  but  most  remained  under  arms,  demanding 
to  be  discharged  on  their  own  oaths,  as  the 
troops  engaged  in  the  late  revolt  had  been. 


1781.]  MUTINEERS    SHOT.  227 

Mortified  at  the  termination  of  the  previous  in- 
surrection, Washington  determined  to  crush  at 
once  a  spirit  so  threatening  to  the  integrity 
of  the  army.  Confiding  in  the  fidelity  of  the 
eastern  troops,  he  sent  from  West  Point  a  de- 
tachment, by  which  the  camp  of  the  mutineers 
was  secretly  and  suddenly  surrounded.  Their 
unconditional  submission  was  then  demanded. 
Intimidated  by  this  prompt  and  energetic  move- 
ment, they  yielded  immediately.  By  their  own 
officers  three  of  the  most  prominent  leaders  were 
pointed  out.  Arrested  and  tried  by  a  drum-head 
court-martial,  they  were  sentenced  to  death. 
Mitigating  circumstances  gained  a  reprieve  for 
one  of  the  number,  but  the  other  two  were  shot 
on  the  field,  by  a  platoon  drafted  from  their  own 
regiment. 

Under  such  discouraging  circumstances,  Wash- 
ington prepared  for  the  campaign  of  1781. 
With  all  his  endeavours,  the  1st  of  June  found 
him  with  but  fourteen  thousand  men  in  camp. 
Threatened  on  all  sides  by  superior  numbers,  it 
seemed  scarcely  possible  that  he  could  keep  the 
field  for  another  season. 

Meanwhile,  from  an  early  period  in  the  year, 
an  active  warfare  had  been  carried  on  in  the 
Carolinas.  Having  collected  a  considerable  body 
of  troops,  Greene,  the  successor  of  Gates  in 
command  of  the  southern  American  army,  pre- 
pared for  a  vigorous  campaign,  by  despatching 


228  HISTORY   OF    NEW    JERSEY.  [1781. 

Morgan,  with  a  thousand  men,  to  harass  the 
British  left  and  rear,  lying  west  of  Broad  River, 
in  South  Carolina.  Cornwallis  immediately  sent 
Tarleton,  his  favourite  cavalry  officer,  in  pursuit. 
Retiring  before  the  enemy,  Morgan  at  length 
took  a  stand  at  the  Cowpens,  where,  on  the  17th 
of  January,  a  sanguinary  battle  was  fought,  ter- 
minating in  the  defeat  of  Tarleton,  with  the  loss 
of  more  than  half  his  troops.  Cornwallis  now 
turned  upon  Greene,  who,  having  presently  ef- 
fected a  junction  with  the  victorious  Morgan,  for 
more  than  a  month  avoided  an  engagement ;  but, 
at  length,  on  the  "15th  of  March,  both  armies 
joined  battle  in  the  vicinity  of  Guilford  Court 
House,  North  Carolina.  Though  victorious, 
Cornwallis,  too  much  weakened  to  reap  the  fruits 
of  his  success,  fell  back  upon  Wilmington. 
Greene  immediately  adopted  the  bold  plan  of 
retaking  South  Carolina.  Advancing  rapidly 
toward  Camden,  he  was  met  and  momentarily 
checked  by  Lord  Rawdon,  at  Hobkirk's  Hill. 
Adhering  to  his  original  intention,  however,  he 
finally  forced  the  British  from  their  outposts  into 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Charleston. 

Meanwhile  Cornwallis,  penetrating  Greene's 
design  too  late  to  frustrate  it,  wheeled  to  the 
northward,  and  joined  the  British  troops  engaged 
in  ravaging  Virginia.  After  a  series  of  move- 
ments against  Lafayette,  who  had  been  sent 
to  oppose  him,  he  retired  across  James  River 


1781.]         INVESTMENT   OF    CORNWALLIS.  229 

to  Yorktown,  where,  in  obedience  to  the  orders 
of  Clinton,  who  apprehended  an  attack  upon 
New  York,  he  intrenched  in  a  strong  position, 
to  await  further  directions. 

Washington  had  been  actively  preparing  to 
attack  New  York,  in  conjunction  with  the 
French  army  under  Rochambeau ;  but,  being 
informed  that  a  fleet  might  be  daily  expected 
to  arrive  from  France,  he  at  once  conceived 
the  plan  of  a  combined  naval  and  military  as- 
sault upon  the  position  of  Cornwallis.  Late  in 
August,  De  Grasse,  with  the  ardently  hoped  for 
squadron,  sailed  into  the  Chesapeake.  In  an  in- 
terview between  Washington,  De  Grasse,  and 
Rochambeau,  the  plan  of  operations  was  speedily 
arranged.  Marching  with  great  rapidity  and 
secrecy,  the  land  forces  were  already  at  the  head 
of  Elk,  before  Clinton  could  believe  that  any  thing 
more  than  a  feint  was  intended.  By  the  help 
of  the  French  transports,  the  allied  armies  soon 
effected  a  junction  with  Lafayette,  at  Williams- 
burg,  whence,  in  number  about  sixteen  thousand, 
they  marched  to  invest  Cornwallis. 

Every  arrangement  being  completed,  on  the 
night  of  October  the  6th,  the  besiegers  com- 
menced their  first  parallel.  During  eleven  days 
the  attack  and  defence  were  both  conducted 
with  the  utmost  courage  and  skill.  Cornwallis, 
however,  could  maintain  his  position  no  longer  ; 
while  his  retreat  was  effectually  cut  off  by  De 
20 


230  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1782. 

Grasse.  If  the  Americans  were  to  storm  his 
works,  he  could  not  doubt  but  that  they  would 
be  successful.  To  save  the  unnecessary  effusion 
of  blood  that  would  attend  such  an  assault,  he 
proposed  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  terms  of 
capitulation  having  been  finally  agreed  upon,  the 
garrison,  to  the  number  of  seven  thousand  men, 
surrendered  themselves  prisoners  of  war,  on  the 
19th  of  October. 

From  the  day  upon  which  Cornwallis  capitu- 
lated, the  prospect  of  a  peace,  favourable  to  the 
independence  of  the  confederated  states,  grew 
every  moment  brighter.  The  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution was  virtually  terminated.  In  the  south, 
however,  a  spirited  partisan  contest  was  main- 
tained for  a  considerable  length  of  time  ;  while, 
under  the  direction  of  the  New  York  Board  of 
Associated  Loyalists,  numerous  bands  of  Tory 
refugees  continued  to  harass  the  people  of  New 
Jersey,  by  a  series  of  wanton  and  sanguinary 
outrages.  Prominent  among  these  was  the 
murder  of  Captain  Joshua  Huddy,  a  brave  and 
enterprising  militia  officer  from  the  county  of 
Monmouth — a  deed  which,  though  the  perpe- 
trators of  it  were  acquitted  by  a  British  court- 
martial,  Carleton,  the  successor  of  Clinton,  re- 
probated in  the  strongest  terms. 

Early  in  1782,  a  resolution  was  adopted  by 
the  English  House  of  Commons,  denouncing  as 
enemies  to  the  king  all  who  should  advise  or  at- 


1783.]          SUSPENSION   OF    HOSTILITIES.  231 

tempt  a  further  prpsecution  of  war  on  the  conti- 
nent of  North  America.  A  change  of  ministry 
and  propositions  for  negotiation  speedily  followed, 
and  on  the  30th  of  November  a  provisional 
treaty  of  peace,  to  take  effect  when  Great  Britain 
and  France  should  conclude  an  amicable  arrange- 
ment, was  signed  by  the  English  and  American 
commissioners  at  Paris.  On  the  20th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1783,  preliminary  treaties  between  Great 
Britain,  France,  and  Spain,  were  agreed  to. 
Peace  being  thus  ensured,  Congress,  on  the  llth 
of  April,  proclaimed  a  cessation  of  hostilities ; 
and  on  the  30th  of  September  the  independence 
of  the  confederacy  was  formally  acknowledged 
and  ratified. 


232  HISTORY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1783. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Embarrassed  situation  of  the  country — Conditional  cession  of 
public  lands  by  Virginia — Objected  to — Grounds  of  New 
Jersey's  objection — Virginia  withdraws  her  condition,  and 
the  cession  is  accepted — Federal  impost  proposed — Favoured 
by  New  Jersey  and  other  states — Defeated  in  consequence 
of  the  opposition  of  New  York — 111  feeling  thus  created — 
Embarrassing  resolution  of  the  New  Jersey  legislature — Na- 
tional convention  recommended — Meets  at  Philadelphia — 
"New  Jersey  Plan" — "Virginia  Plan"  adopted — Constitu- 
tion submitted  to  the  states — Ratified  by  the  New  Jersey 
convention — Republican  and  Federal  parties — Politics  of 
New  Jersey — Washington  chosen  president — His  journey 
from  Mount  Vernon  to  New  York — His  reception  at  Tren- 
ton— Trenton  established  permanently  as  the  capital  of  the 
state — Death  of  Governor  Livingston — William  Patterson 
governor — Is  made  an  associate  judge  in  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States — Resigns  the  executive  of  New  Jersey 
• — Is  succeeded  by  Richard  Howell — New  partisan  differ- 
ences— Alien  and  sedition  laws — Decline  of  the  Federalists 
— Joseph  Bloomfield  elected  governor  of  New  Jersey  by  the 
Republicans — Removal  of  the  Brotherton  Indians. 

Ox  the  return  of  peace  and  the  recognition  of 
their  independence,  the  people  of  the  United 
States  had  expected  to  enjoy  a  period  of  repose 
and  prosperity.  But  numerous  difficulties  of 
the  most  disheartening  character  were  yet  to  be 
surmounted.  Burdensome  state  and  national 
debts  were  to  be  liquidated,  conflicting  interests 
reconciled,  and  mutual  jealousies  allayed.  Dis- 


1783.]  CESSION   BY   VIRGINIA.  233 

Bensions  speedily  arose ;  which,  for  a  time, 
threatened  to  involve  the  country  in  the  miseries 
of  anarchy  and  civil  war.  Happily,  however, 
eight  years  of  common  suffering  had  so  assimi- 
lated the  diverse  population  of  the  several  states, 
that  all  considerations  of  a  sectional  or  private 
nature  were  at  length  laid  aside  for  measures 
conducive  to  the  good  of  the  nation,  and  to  the 
permanent  establishment  of  its  independence. 

Even  before  the  ratification  of  peace,  Con- 
gress directed  its  chief  endeavours  to  liquidate 
the  public  debt,  which  formed  the  most  serious 
obstacle  to  the  prosperity  of  the  country.  Al- 
ready Virginia  had  ceded  to  the  confederacy  a 
portion  of  her  public  lands,  to  be  appropriated 
to  that  purpose ;  but  with  the  condition  that  her 
right  and  title  to  the  remainder  should  be  fully 
guarantied.  To  this  condition,  however,  there 
was  no  little  objection. 

In  the  protracted  struggle  for  independence, 
the  people  of  New  Jersey  had  exerted  themselves 
to  the  utmost  of  their  ability.  During  nearly 
the  whole  period  of  the  contest,  the  main  army 
of  the  confederacy  being  within  or  on  the  bor- 
ders of  their  state,  they  were  at  no  time  free 
from  the  unavoidable  evils  of  war.  The  inhabit- 
ants of  South  Carolina  alone  had  suffered  to  a 
similar  extent  by  the  depredations  of  the  enemy, 
while  no  state  had  contributed  more  largely  than 
New  Jersey  toward  supplying  the  American 

20* 


234  HISTORY    OP   NEW   JERSEY.  [1783. 

troops  with  the  necessaries  of  life.  Plundered 
by  their  foes,  they  received  but  little  compensa- 
tion from  their  friends ;  and  when  paid  at  all,  it 
was  in  a  currency  almost  worthless.  The  de- 
predations of  the  former  they  had  resisted  by 
taking  up  arms  ;  to  the  requisitions  of  the  latter 
they  had,  in  general,  acceded  with  commendable 
promptitude  and  willingness. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  the  legislature  of  New 
Jersey  protested  against  the  acceptance,  by  Con- 
gress, of  the  offer  of  Virginia,  with  its  annexed 
condition.  Wrested  from  England  by  the  joint 
efforts  of  the  states,  the  lands  in  question,  they 
contended,  belonged  to  the  states  in  common. 
They  therefore  urged,  as  "just  and  incontroverti- 
ble," the  claim  of  New  Jersey  to  a  "full  pro- 
portion of  all  vacant  territory,"  the  proceeds  of 
the  sale  of  which  were  to  be  applied  to  liquidat- 
ing her  proportion  of  the  national  debt.  Other 
legislatures  uniting  in  this  protest,  Congress  re- 
jected the  Virginia  cession.  Presently,  how- 
ever, that  state  magnanimously  withdrew  the 
condition  annexed  to  her  offer,  and  it  was  then 
accepted.  Her  example  was  speedily  followed 
by  the  remaining  states,  claiming  vacant  or 
"  crown"  lands,  and  Congress  was  thus  confirm- 
ed in  the  possession  of  a  vast  extent  of  territory. 
Though  the  chief  object  of  these  grants — the 
payment  of  the  debt  of  the  confederacy — was 
not  accomplished  so  soon  as  it  was  expected, 


1786.]  FEDERAL    IMPOST    PROPOSED.  235 

they  yet  afforded  cheering  evidences  of  a  scarcely 
hoped  for  harmony  of  feeling  between  the  seve- 
ral states. 

As  another  means  of  lightening  the  burden 
with  which  the  federal  government  was  oppress- 
ed, Congress  proposed  to  the  legislatures  of 
the  different  states,  that  they  should  confer  upon 
it  the  right  to  levy  a  moderate  specific  duty  on 
certain  imported  articles.  New  Jersey  had  al- 
ready urged  the  necessity  of  this  measure,  while 
hesitating  to  adopt  the  Articles  of  Confedera- 
tion ;  and  now  her  legislature  willingly  granted 
the  desired  authority.  But  the  concurrence  of 
all  the  states  was  necessary  to  its  confirmation  ; 
and,  New  York  steadily  refusing  her  full  assent, 
the  measure  was  finally  defeated. 

Considerable  ill-feeling  was  excited  in  conse- 
quence. Placed  between  two  powerful  commer- 
cial states,  from  which  the  greater  part  of  her 
foreign  merchandise  was  necessarily  derived, 
New  Jersey  had  a  grievance  peculiarly  her  own 
— that  of  paying  the  duties  which  those  states 
severally  laid  upon  the  importations  she  con- 
sumed. By  the  proposed  federative  system  of 
imposts,  she  had  hoped  to  remove  the  disadvan- 
tages that  operated  against  her,  in  consequence 
of  the  position  she  occupied.  Her  disappoint- 
ment at  the  failure  of  that  measure  was  extreme, 
and  expressed  in  strong  language.  On  the  20th 
of  February,  1786,  her  legislature,  by  resolu- 


236  HISTORY    OF    NEW    JERSEY.  [1786. 

tion,  refused  positively  to  pay  any  more  specie 
into  the  public  treasury,  until  New  York  con- 
sented to  the  federal  impost.  This  resolution 
embarrassed  the  action  of  Congress  considerably, 
and  was  deemed  of  such  importance  that  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  for  the  express  purpose  of 
expostulating  with  the  assembly  of  New-  Jersey. 
Visited  by  this  committee  in  person,  the  assembly, 
"  being  willing  to  remove  as  far  as  possible  every 
embarrassment  from  the  counsels  of  the  Union," 
at  once  rescinded  the  obnoxious  resolution,  but 
made  no  provision  for  collecting  the  money  which 
had  been  called  for. 

These  events,  with  others  of  still  greater  mo- 
ment, made  it  evident  to  the  reflecting  statesmen 
of  the  country,  and  even  to  the  mass  of  the 
people,  that  some  modification,  or  complete  re- 
organization, of  the  federal  compact  was  abso- 
lutely necessary.  Virginia  had  already  moved 
in  this  matter.  In  accordance  with  a  resolution 
of  her  assembly,  commissioners  from  five  states, 
including  those  from  New  Jersey,  met  at  Anna- 
polis, in  Maryland,  in  September,  1786,  "to 
consider  how  far  a  uniform  system  in  the  com- 
mercial relations  of  the  United  States  might  be 
necessary  to  their  common  interest,  and  their 
present  harmony."  But,  finding  themselves  few 
in  number,  and  without  adequate  authority  to 
adopt  any  definite  and  effectual  measures,  they 
recommended  a  convention  of  delegates  from 


1787.]    DELEGATES  TO  CONVENTION.      237 

the  several  states,  to  meet  at  Philadelphia,  in 
the  following  May,  and  then  adjourned. 

Congress  acquiescing  in  this  call  for  a  conven- 
tion, the  states,  moved,  probably,  by  an  alarm- 
ing insurrection  in  Massachusetts,  speedily 
agreed  to  it.  Virginia  first,  and  then  New  Jer- 
sey, appointed  delegates ;  the  latter  naming 
William  Livingston,  David  Brearley,  William 
Patterson,  Jonathan  Dayton,  Abraham  Clark, 
and  William  C.  Houston. 

At  the  time  and  place  appointed,  delegates 
from  twelve  states  assembled.  Washington  was 
unanimously  chosen  president  of  the  convention, 
which,  with  closed  doors,  immediately  entered 
upon  the  important  business  before  it.  During 
the  long  and  stormy  period  of  its  session,  three 
distinct  plans  were  brought  up  for  discussion. 
The  first  of  these,  introduced  by  Patterson,  of 
New  Jersey,  and  known  as  the  "Jersey"  or 
"  State-Rights  Plan,"  proposed,  simply,  that  the 
Articles  of  Confederation  should  be  so  amended 
as  to  confer  increased  authority  upon  Congress, 
without  disturbing  the  original  equality  of  the 
several  states  in  that  body.  As  a  majority  of 
the  convention  favoured  an  entire  remodelling  of 
the  federative  system,  this  scheme  was  rejected, 
as  was  also  that  introduced  and  advocated  by  the 
celebrated  Alexander  Hamilton,  who  proposed 
the  establishment  of  a  purely  national  govern- 
ment. The  "Virginia  Plan,"  a  species  of  com- 


238  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1787. 

promise  between  the  two  rejected  schemes,  and 
of  a  mixed  federal  and  national  character,  was 
then  taken  up,  and  made  the  basis  of  our  present 
constitution,  as  finally  adopted  on  the  17th  of 
September,  1787. 

Submitted  to  Congress,  the  new  constitution 
was  presently  transmitted  by  that  body  to  the 
several  legislatures,  with  a  recommendation  that 
state  conventions,  of  delegates  chosen  by  the 
people,  should  be  called  to  decide  upon  its  ap- 
proval or  rejection. 

The  New  Jersey  convention  met  at  Trenton, 
on  the  llth  of  December.  With  grave  delibe- 
ration, the  new  instrument  of  union  was  read 
over  section  by  section.  Scarcely  any  discus- 
sion took  place,  and  no  amendments  "were  offered. 
On  the  18.  th,  the  constitution  was  ratified  by  the 
unanimous  voice  of  the  convention;  and,  on  the 
following  day,  the  members  proceeded  in  solemn 
procession  to  the  court-house,  where  the  result 
of  their  deliberations  was  made  known  to  the 
assembled  people.  New  Jersey  was  thus  the 
third  state  to  accept  of  the  constitution,  having 
been  preceded  but  a  few  days  by  Delaware  and 
Pennsylvania. 

The  sanction  of  six  more  states  was  necessary, 
however,  to  render  the  new  instrument  binding 
upon  the  confederacy.  From  the  first,  the  de-' 
legates  of  New  Jersey  had  been  decided  friends 
to  the  doctrine  of  states-rights ;  but  only,  per- 


1787.]      RATIFICATION   OF   CONSTITUTION.         239 

haps,  so  far  as  the  one  question  of  equal  repre- 
sentation was  concerned.  On  most  other  points 
they  appear  to  have  been  favourable  to  a  strong 
national  government.  Franklin's  amendment  to 
the  "Virginia  Plan,"  by  which,  in  the  higher 
branch  of  the  confederative  legislature,  the  re- 
presentation of  the  several  states  was  rendered 
equal,  had  removed  their  principal  objection  to 
the  constitution  as  finally  adopted.  But,  by  a 
considerable  proportion  of  the  people  of  the 
country  at  large,  amounting,  indeed,  almost  to  a 
majority,  a  somewhat  broader  ground  of  objec- 
tion had  been  taken.  Many  contended  that 
Congress  and  the  president  had  been  invested 
with  powers  altogether  too  extensive ;  and  that 
these  powers  had  been  taken  from  the  individual 
states.  Others  went  still  further,  declaring  that 
the  new  constitution  would  lead  to  a  breaking  up 
of  the  Union,  and  that  the  convention  which 
framed  it  had  transcended  their  authority,  which 
was  to  amend,  merely,  the  old  Articles  of  Con- 
federation. But,  at  length,  New  Hampshire 
having  acceptdd  of  the  constitution,  the  required 
number  of  states  was  completed,  and  it  thus  be- 
came the  fundamental  law  of  the  republic. 

As  has  just  been  intimated,  the  whole  people 
of  the  United  States,  on  the  question  of  adopt- 
ing or  rejecting  the  federal  constitution  were  at 
once  oi'ganized  into  two  widely  differing  parties. 
On  the  one  side  were  the  Federalists,  who  not 


240  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1789. 

only  declared  themselves  in  favour  of  accepting 
the  new  compact,  but  also,  in  some  instances, 
contended  that  it  ought  to  have  been  rendered 
still  more  centralizing.  Between  these  and  their 
opponents,  who  presently  took  the  name  of  Re- 
publicans, a  warm  political  warfare  was  kept  up, 
even  after  the  ratification  of  the  constitution  by 
all  the  states. 

To  New  Jersey  the  constitution  ensured 
peace,  prosperity,  and  freedom  from  the  ap- 
prehensions of  becoming  the  prey  of  her  more 
powerful  neighbours.  Consequently  the  mass 
of  her  people  sided  with  the  Federalists,  though 
they  do  not  appear  to  have  been  carried  into 
that  current  of  partisan  animosity  by  which  their 
brethren  in  other  parts  of  the  Union  were  so  vi- 
olently agitated.  In  Virginia  and  New  York, 
however,  the  republicans  held  an  undoubted  ma- 
jority. By  these  states  it  was  proposed  to  call 
a  second  national  convention.  But,  the  Con- 
gress of  1789  having  adopted  certain  amend- 
ments to  the  constitution,  this  proposition  was 
not  agreed  to  by  any  other  state.  In  the  mean 
time,  moreover,  Washington,  who,  though  no 
partisan,  was  an  avowed  friend  of  the  new  Fe- 
deral compact,  had  been  elected  to  the  office 
of  President  of  the  United  States,  and  for  a 
brief  period  there  was  a  lull  in  the  political 
tempest. 

From  Mount  Yernon  to  New  York,  where  his 


1789.]      WASHINGTON  AT  TRENTON.      241 

inauguration  was  to  take  place,  Washington 
had  desired  to  proceed  without  display  or  cere- 
mony. But  the  whole  course  of  his  journey  was 
marked  by  splendid  receptions  and  entertain- 
ments, warm  congratulations,  and  whatever  could 
exhibit  the  deep  veneration  and  sincere  gratitude 
of  the  people  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 
Though  not  so  magnificent  as  at  other  places, 
nothing  could  have  been  more  touchingly  appro- 
priate than  his  reception  at  Trenton,  where, 
twelve  years  before,  he  had  appeared  under  cir- 
cumstances .so  widely  different.  On  the  same 
bridge  over  the  Assunpink,  which  he  had  crossed 
the  night  previous  to  the  battle  of  Princeton, 
was  erected  a  triumphal  -arch,  supported  by 
thirteen  columns,  twined  with  evergreens  and 
flowers,  and  bearing  the  inscription — "  The  De- 
fender of  the  Mothers  will  be  the  Protector  of 
the  Daughters."  Underneath  this  arch,  Wash- 
ington, as  he  entered  the  town,  was  met  by  a 
procession  of  matrons,  intermixed  with  whom 
were  young  girls — their  daughters — clad  in  white, 
and  each  carrying  a  basket  of  flowers.  When 
the  president  drew  near,  they  began  to  sing  the 
following  little  Ode,  which  had  been  written  for 
the  occasion,  by  Richard  Howell,  Esq. : — 

"  Welcome,  mighty  chief,  once  more, 
Welcome  to  this  grateful  shore  ; 
JVow  no  mercenary  foe 
Aims  again  the  fatal  blow, 
Aims  at  thee  the  fatal  blow. 
21 


242  HISTORY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1793. 

Virgins  fair  and  matrons  grave, 
Those  thy  conquering  arm  did  save, 
Build  for  thee  triumphal  bowers  ; 
Strew,  ye  fair,  his  way  with  flowers  ! 
Strew  your  hero's  way  with  flowers !" 

As  they  sung  the  last  line  of  their  song,  suit- 
ing the  action  to  the  words,  they  strewed  before 
him  a  profusion  of  flowers  frbm  their  baskets. 

Little  of  marked  historical  importance  occurred 
in  New  Jersey  for  a  number  of  years  after  the 
election  of  Washington  to  the  presidency.  Dur- 
ing the  session  of  the  legislature,  in  1790,  the 
seat  of  government  of  the  state  was  permanently 
established  at  Trenton.  In  July  of  the  same 
year,  the  old  and  tried  governor  of  tlje  common- 
wealth, William  Livingston,  died  while  yet  in 
office,  deeply  lamented  by  all  parties.  Chosen 
when  the  government  was  first  organized,  he  had 
remained  at  his  post,  without  shrinking,  during 
the  entire  period  of  the  perilous  struggle  for  in- 
dependence. Having  assisted  in  framing  the 
federal  constitution,  he  became  its  zealous  sup- 
porter, and  his  influence  had  been  exerted  with 
great  effect  to  procure  its  ratification  by  the 
state.  He  died  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  July, 
and  was  succeeded  as  governor  by  William 
Patterson,  who  continued  in  office  until  March, 
1793 ;  when,  having  been  appointed  an  asso- 
ciate judge  in  the  supreme  court  of  the  United 
States,  he  resigned.  Governor  Patterson  was 


1798.]  NEW   POLITICAL    ISSUES.  243 

succeeded  by  Richard  Howell,  who  remained  in 
service  until  October,  1801. 

During  the  period  of  Governor  Howell's  ad- 
ministration, a  great  change  took  place  in  the 
condition  of  the  two  political  organizations 
of  the  state  and  nation.  The  original  point 
in  dispute  had  been  dropped,  and  new  questions, 
both  of  foreign  and  domestic  policy,  were 
brought  up,  inflaming  to  the  highest  degree  the 
animosity  of  partisans. 

Emerging  from  a  bloody  revolution,  France 
had  proclaimed  herself  a  republic,  and,  soon 
after,  declared  war  against  England.  By  the 
new  and  ill  regulated  government,  the  United 
States,  during  a  period  extending  from  1798 
to  1798,  were  subjected  to  many  mortifying 
insults  and  grievous  injuries.  Siding  with  the 
French,  the  Republicans  or  Democrats,  as  they 
now  began  to  be  called,  advocated  the  inter- 
ference of  the  American  government  in  favour 
of  France,  either  by  taking  up  arms  in  her 
behalf,  or  by  fulfilling  the  conditions  of  a  treaty 
made  with  the  late  empire,  which  provided  that 
French  privateers  and  their  prizes,  but  not 
those  of  any  country  at  -war  with  France,  should 
receive  shelter  in  the  ports  of  the  United  States. 
Deeming  this  treaty  no  longer  binding,  and  wish- 
ing to  preserve  the  country  from  the  miseries  of 
a  foreign  war,  Washington,  supported  by  the 
Federalists,  issued  a  proclamation  of  strict  neu- 


244  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY  [1800. 

trality.  Shortly  subsequent,  several  French 
privateers,  fitting  out  in  American  ports,  were 
seized  by  the  Federal  authorities.  Against  these 
seizures,  Genet,  the  minister  of  the  Directory 
of  France,  entered  a  warm  protest,  and,  en- 
couraged by  the  sympathies  of  a  large  portion 
of  our  citizens,  violently  assailed  the  prudent 
course  of  the  administration.  But,  with  the  re- 
call of  Genet,  the  excitement  thus  created  par- 
tially subsided. 

France,  however,  still  maintained  her  insulting 
and  injurious  policy.  At  length,  during  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  elder  Adams,  who  energeti- 
cally, but  with  little  avail,  endeavoured  to  obtain 
redress,  the  prospect  of  a  war  with  that  country 
became  well-nigh  certain.  It  was  on  this  occa- 
sion that  the  celebrated  Alien  and  Sedition  laws 
were  passed,  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  sustain- 
ing the  policy  of  the  administration.  The  arbi- 
trary nature  of  these  laws  at  once  brought  upon 
them  the  obloquy  of  a  considerable  majority  of 
the  American  people,  and  the  Federal  party,  with 
which  they  originated,  immediately  began  to  de- 
cline. In  1800 — but  two  years  after  their 
passage — Thomas  Jefferson,  the  Democratic  can- 
didate, was  elected  to  the  presidency  over  Mr. 
Adams. 

Hitherto  New  Jersey  had  been  strongly  Fede- 
ral, so  strongly  indeed,  that  the  majority  of  that 
party  in  the  legislature,  adopted,  previous  to  the 


1802.]  DEPARTURE   OF   INDIANS.  245 

election  in  January,  1801,  a  general-ticket  sys- 
tem of  choosing  representatives  to  Congress. 
They  were  confident  of  securing  by  this  means 
a  delegation  wholly  federal.  But  the  event  was 
contrary  to  expectation  ;  the  Democratic  party 
triumphing  with  from  five  hundred  to  a  thousand 
majority.  The  state  election,  in  the  following 
October,  also  resulted  favourably  to  the  Demo- 
crats. Having  obtained  a  majority  in  both 
branches  of  the  legislature,  they  were  enabled 
to  elect  their  candidate  for  governor — the  hu- 
mane and  popular  Joseph  Bloomfield. 

During  the  year  1802,  the  last  feeble  remnant 
of  the  New  Jersey  Indians,  between  seventy  and 
eighty  in  number,  removed  from  the  state. 
While  quietly  settled  at  Brotherton,  as  their  little 
tract  in  Burlington  county  was  called,  a  message 
came  from  the  Stockbridge  Indians,  dwelling  upon 
the  shores  of  Oneida  Lake,  in  New  York,  invit- 
ing them  "  to  come  and  eat  of  their  dish,  which 
was  large  enough  for  both."  "  We  have  stretch- 
ed our  necks,"  continued  the  characteristically 
worded  message  of  the  simple  red  men,  "in 
looking  toward  the  fire-side  of  our  grandfathers, 
until  they  are  as  long  as  cranes."  Accepting 
this  invitation,  the  Brotherton  Indians,  having 
obtained  permission  to  sell  their  lands,  took  a 
final  departure  from  the  hunting-grounds  of  their 
ancestors. 

There  being  no  choice  for  governor  at  the 
21* 


246  HISTORY    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1803. 

election  in  October,  John  Lambert,  vice-president 
of  the  upper  legislative  house,  performed  the 
duties  of  that  office  during  the  ensuing  guber- 
natorial year.  In  1803,  however,  Bloomfield 
was  again  chosen. 


CHAPTER  XX.  « 

Re-election  of  Bloomfield — Act  for  the  gradual  abolition  of 
slavery — Aaron  Burr — Sketch  of  his  life — Origin  of  his 
quarrel  with  Hamilton — He  kills  Hamilton  in  a  duel — Is  in- 

>  dieted  for  murder  hy  a  New  Jersey  grand  jury' — His  journeys 
to  the  West — His  arrest,  trial,  and  acquittal — His  subsequent 
career  and  death — Is  buried  in  the  Princeton  grave-yard — 
Difficulties  between  the  United  States,  England,  and  France 
— British  orders  in  council — Napoleon's  retaliatory  decrees 
— American  Embargo  Act — Continued  aggressions  of  Eng- 
land— Affair  of  the  Chesapeake — Hostilities  declared — Ex- 
emption of  New  Jersey  from  invasion — Naval  victories  of 
Bainbridge  and  Lawrence — Death  of  the  latter — American 
successes — Peace — -Governors  Aaron  Ogden,  William  S. 
Pennington,  Mahlon  Dickerson — School  fund  created — Isaac 
H.  Williamson  governor — Act  to  expedite  the  extinction  of 
slavery — Common  schools  established — Peter  D.  Vroom  go- 
vernor— Jacksonian  and  Whig  parties — Governors  Samuel 
S.  Southard,  Elias  P.  Seeley,  Philemon  Dickerson — Finan- 
cial embarrassments — Triumph  of  the  Whigs — 'William 
Pennington  governor  —  Constitutional  convention — New 
constitution  ratified  by  the  people — Governors  Dan.  Haines, 
Charles  C.  Stratton,  George  F.  Fort — Present  condition 
and  prospects  of  the  state — Conclusion. 

FROM  the  period  of  Bloomfield's  second  elec- 
tion until  the  War  of  1812,  the  history  of  New 
Jersey  affords  but  few  points  of  interest,  as  con- 


1804.]  AAEON  BURR.  247 

nected  with  the  public  action  of  the  state.  The 
political  aspect  of  affairs  was  decidedly  favoura- 
ble to  the  Democrats,  Blooinfield  being  re-chosen 
every  year  until  the  opening  of  hostilities. 

Much  to  the  gratification  of  the  governor,  who 
had  been  from  the  first  an  ardent  advocate  of 
the  abolition  of  slavery  in  his  own  state,  on  the 
15th  of  February,  1804,  an  act  was  passed,  with 
scarcely  a  dissenting  vote,  declaring  that  all  per- 
sons, the  children  of  slave  parents,  born  after 
the  fourth  of  July,  in  that  year,  should  become 
free — the  males,  when  twenty-five  years  old,  and 
the  females  on  arriving  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
Thus  New  Jersey,  the  seventh,  and,  notwith- 
standing the  character  of  her  population,  the 
last  of  the  original  thirteen  to  do  so,  became 
virtually  one  of  the  circle  o£  free  states. 

It  was  during  this  year  that  the  fatal  duel  be- 
tween Aaron  Burr  and  Alexander  Hamilton, 
took  place  at  Weehawken,  on  the  Jersey  shore, 
opposite  New  York  city. 

Burr  was  a  native  of  Newark,  and  a  graduate 
of  Princeton  College,  of  which  his  father  was 
the  first  president.  Leaving  college  with  the 
highest  academic  honours,  at  the  early  age  of 
sixteen,  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  law ; 
but  the  War  of  Independence  breaking  out,  he 
joined  the  American  army,  in  which  he  rose  to 
the  rank  of  colonel.  Having  served  through 
two  active  campaigns,  during  one  of  which  he 


248  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1804. 

took  part  in  the  Battle  of  Monmouth,  he  grew 
dissatisfied,  threw  up  his  commission,  and  re- 
turned to  his  legal  studies.  Daringly  ambitious, 
he  had  recourse  to  politics  as  the  speediest  and 
most  certain  avenue  to  distinction.  His  un- 
doubted talents  and  genius  for  intrigue,  united 
•with  polished  manners  and  a  singularly  fascinat- 
ing address,  brought  him  rapidly  into  notice, 
and  he  soon  became  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  popular  democratic  leaders.  In  1801  he 
was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

From  the  elevation  he  had  attained,  Burr  fell 
suddenly.  Charged  with  intriguing  against  Jef- 
ferson, in  order  to  secure  his  own  election  to  the 
office  of  president,  he  was  abandoned  by  most 
of  his  party,  which  would  nominate  him  neither 
for  re-election  to  the  vice-presidency,  nor  as  a 
candidate  for  the  executive  chair  of  New  York. 
For  the  latter  station,  however,  he  determined 
to  run  independently,  expecting  to  obtain  the 
votes  of  the  Federalists,  whose  shattered  condi- 
tion rendered  hopeless  the  election  of  a  candi- 
date of  their  own.  But  Hamilton,  the  great 
leader  of  the  Federal  party,  though  not  active 
against  Burr,  refused  to  give  him  his  support, 
and  he  was  defeated. 

Chagrined  and  disappointed,  Burr  at  once 
turned  upon  Hamilton,  to  whom  he  attributed 
his  defeat,  with  the  malignant  and  studied  de- 
termination of  forcing  him  into  a  duel.  After 


1805.]  BURR   INDICTED.  249 

endeavouring,  in  every  honourable  way,  to  avoid 
what  both  his  reason  and  his  conscience  abhorred, 
Hamilton  at  length  accepted  a  challenge  from 
Burr.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  llth  of 
July,  the  parties  met.  At  the  first  fire,  Hamil- 
ton fell  mortally  wounded,  unconsciously  dis- 
charging his  pistol  as  he  sunk  to  the  ground. 
For  twenty-four  hours  he  lingered  in  extreme 
agony,  and  then  calmly  expired. 

A  perfect  storm  of  indignation  broke  over  the 
surviving  principal  in  this  lamentable  affair. 
Public  opinion  regarded  him  as  but  little  better 
than  a  cold-blooded  murderer ;  and,  as  such,  he 
was  presently  indicted  by  a  New  Jersey  grand 
jury.  Efforts  were  made  to  stay  prosecution  on 
this  indictment,  but  though  he  had  been  a  per- 
sonal friend  of  Burr,  Governor  Bloomfield  steadily 
refused  to  interfere  for  that  purpose.  No  other 
course  was  left  to  Burr,  therefore,  than  to  avoid 
entering  the  state. 

Ruined  in  reputation,  and  with  his  ambitious 
hopes  forever  blasted,  the  wretched  Burr,  having 
served  out  his  unexpired  term  as  vice-president, 
presently  crossed  the  Alleghanies,  and  sailed 
down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to  New  Orleans, 
stopping,  very  mysteriously,  at  various  points 
on  his  route.  Returning  to  Philadelphia  in  the 
winter  of  1805,  he  remained  there  until  the  fol- 
lowing summer,  when  he  again  set  out '  for  the 
West.  It  having  at  length  become  evident  that 


250  HISTORY   OF   NEW    JERSEY.  [1806. 

his  designs  vrere  of  a  treasonable  character,  his 
arrest  was  determined  upon,  and  a  reward  offer- 
ed for  his  apprehension.  On  the  19th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1807,  he  was  captured,  while  travelling 
with  a  single  companion,  through  the  Tombigbee 
country,  in  Eastern  Mississippi.  He  was  pre- 
sently tried  on  the  charge  of  treason  against  the 
Unitejl  States.  His  guilt  could  scarcely  be 
doubted,  but  the  evidence  against  him  was  in- 
formal, and  he  was  acquitted.  Indictments  for 
treason  were  also  hanging  over  several  of  his 
associates,  among  whom  was  Jonathan  Dayton, 
of  New  Jersey.  These,  of  course,  were  now 
abandoned. 

After  standing  his  trial  on  certain  other 
charges,  of  which  he  was  likewise  acquitted, 
Burr  embarked  for  Europe,  where,  for  four 
years,  he  lived  an  object  of  suspicion,  and  a 
wretched,  restless  wanderer.  Returning  in  1812 
to  New  York,  he  there  resumed  the  practice  of 
law.  His  death,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  took 
place  on  the  14th  of  September,  1836.  His  re- 
mains were  carried  to  Princeton,  and  there  buried, 
with  the  honours  of  war,  beside  the  grave  where 
repose  those  of  his  father. 

While  Burr  was  yet  engaged  in  his  treason- 
able plot,  the  foreign  relations  of  the  Union  had 
assumed  a  troubled  aspect. 

During  the  bloody  war  which  succeeded  the 
French  Revolution,  and  up  to  the  year  1806, 


1806.]  BRITISH   AGGRESSIONS.  251 

the  United  States  had  enjoyed  a  prosperous, 
though  not  entirely  uninterrupted  trade  with 
Europe.  Various  assumptions  of  exclusive  naval 
authority  were,  however,  from  time  to  time  set 
up  by  the  British  government.  Among  these 
were  the  right  of  search,  and  the  right  of  im- 
pressment, which,  at  this  period,  England,  at- 
tempted to  enforce,  greatly  to  the  injury  qf  our 
seamen,  native-born  as  well  as  adopted  citizens. 
At  the  same  time,  that  government  issued  a 
formal  Order  in  Council,  the  effect  of  which  was 
to  destroy  completely  the  commercial  relations 
existing  between  France  and  America.  In- 
censed by  these  invasions  of  the  individual  rights 
of  their  citizens,  and  of  their  own  commercial 
rights  as  a  neutral  confederacy,  the  United  States 
energetically  remonstrated,  through  their  com- 
missioners, Messrs.  Monroe  and  Pinckney.  Eng- 
land, however,  continued  to  insist  upon  her  as- 
sumed right  to  impress  American  mariners  on 
the  high  seas,  and  to  force  American  vessels, 
engaged  in  commerce  with  other  nations,  to  sail 
under  the  license  of  a  British  admiral,  or  be 
subject  to  capture  and  confiscation. 

Meanwhile,  in  imitation  of  his  more  powerful 
maritime  rival,  Napoleon,  now  Emperor  of  the 
French,  issued  his  retaliatory  Berlin  and  Milan 
decrees ;  which  rendered  all  neutral  vessels  trad- 
ing in  English  merchandise,  or  under  British 
licenses,  liable  to  seizure  and  confiscation  by  the 


252  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1812. 

cruisers  of  France  ;  just  as  the  British  Orders 
in  Council  had  previously  subjected  American 
vessels  found  trading  with  French  property  on 
board,  to  capture  and  confiscation  by  the  navy 
of  England. 

Under  these  irritating  circumstances,  it  was  at 
first  thought  prudent  to  withdraw  our  commercial 
marine  from  the  ocean  altogether.  In  accord- 
ance, therefore,  with  the  recommendation  of 
President  Jefferson,  Congress,  in  1807,  passed 
an  act  enforcing  an  embargo  on  American  ves- 
sels. This  measure  was  followed  by  others  of  a 
similar  character,  including  the  act  of  non-inter- 
course ;  but,  contrary  to  anticipation,  they 
wrought  no  favourable  change  in  the  conduct, 
either  of  France  or  England.  On  the  contrary, 
the  latter  nation,  especially,  seemed  to  grow  more 
determined  in  her  insolence  and  in  her  acts  of 
aggression.  Among  these  last  was  the  wanton 
attack  made  by  one  of  her  cruisers,  the  Leopard, 
upon  the  American  frigate  Chesapeake,  under 
the  pretence  of  recovering  certain  men,  claimed 
as  deserters  from  the  British  service. 

From  this  period,  until  1812,  various  efforts 
were  made  to  settle,  by  amicable  negotiations, 
the  irritating  questions  in  dispute  between  the 
two  countries.  But»all  these  efforts  having 
failed,  Congress,  finding  that  hostilities  could  no 
longer  be  honourably  avoided,  formally  declared 


1814.]  NAVAL   TRIUMPHS.  253 

war  against  Great  Britain,  on  the  18th  of  June, 
1812. 

Confined  mostly  to  the  frontiers  and  the 
ocean,  the  contest  that  followed  this  declaration 
caused  no  injury  to  New  Jersey  from  actual  inva- 
sion. In  other  respects  she  sustained  her  share 
of  the  sufferings  and  expenses,  consequent  upon 
hostilities.  In  the  maritime  successes,  hy  which, 
alone,  during  the  early  part  of  the  war,  the 
arms  of  America  were  preserved  from  disgrace, 
two  of  her  sons  gloriously  participated  ;  winning 
names  that  will  not  soon  be  blotted  from  the  list 
of  our  country's  naval  heroes.  Of  these,  one 
was  William  Bainbridge,  a  native  of  Princeton, 
and  commander  of  the  Constitution,  when  she 
made  a  prize  of  the  British  frigate  Java,  on  the 
29th  of  December,  1812.  The  other  was  the 
heroic  Lawrence,  of  Burlington,  the  captor  of 
the  Peacock  brig-of-war.  But  Lawrence's  career, 
which  had  opened  so  brilliantly,  was  suddenly 
brought  to  a  close  on  the  1st  of  June,  1813 ;  he 
being  on  that  day  mortally  wounded,  during  an 
engagement  in  which  his  vessel,  the  Chesapeake, 
after  a  brief  but  most  sanguinary  struggle,  was 
compelled  to  yield  to  the  British  frigate  Shannon. 

It  was  not  until  the  opening  of  1814,  tha,t 
the  military  arm  of  our  national  defence  began 
to  recover  permanently  from  its  early  disasters. 
During  that  year,  however,  it  achieved  a  series 
of  important  triumphs  in  the  north-west,  on  the 
22 


254  HISTORY   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1817. 

Canadian  frontier,  and  in  the  south.  On  the 
8th  of  February,  1815,  hostilities  were  finally 
terminated  by  the  celebrated  victory  of  General 
Jackson,  over  the  enemy,  at  New  Orleans.  Two 
weeks  previous,  a  treaty  of  peace  had  been  signed 
at  Ghent ;  and  on  the  17th  of  the  following 
month,  it  was  ratified  by  the  President  and 
Senate. 

Meanwhile  several  slight  political  changes  had 
occurred  in  New  Jersey.  At  the  state  elections 
in  1812,  the  Federal  or  Peace  party  carried  the 
legislature,  secured  a  majority  of  the  congres- 
sional delegation,  and  elected  Aaron  Ogden  go- 
vernor. In  the  following  year,  however,  the 
Democrats  recovered  their  lost  ascendancy,  and 
William  S.  Pennington  was  chosen  to  fill  the  ex- 
ecutive chair. 

Pennington  was  succeeded,  in  1815,  by  Mah- 
lon  Dickerson,  who  remained  in  office  two  years. 
It  was  during  his  administration  that  the  first 
step  was  taken  toward  creating  a  permanent 
fund  for  the  establishment  and  support  of  a  sys- 
tem of  common-schools. 

In  1817,  Isaac  H.  Williamson  was  elected  go- 
vernor, to  which  office  he  was  annually  chosen 
until  1829.  While  Williamson  occupied  the 
chair  of  state,  two  important  public  measures 
were  adopted.  The  first  of  these  was  an  act, 
passed  in  1820,  embracing  and  extending  the 
principles  of  the  abolition  bill  of  1804.  By  its 


1832.]       PARTY  ORGANIZATIONS.        255 

operation  the  extinction  of  slavery  has  been 
greatly  hastened.  Indeed,  at  the  present  time, 
there  are  no  slaves  in  the  state,  though  about 
two  hundred  persons,  the  children  of  slave  pa- 
rents, are  still  held  to  labour  as  "  apprentices," 
under  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  1820. 

The  second  measure  above  alluded  to,  was 
adopted  in  February,  1829.  By  it  the  first  com- 
mon schools  in  the  state  were  established.  For 
their  support,  provision  was  made  for  an  annual 
appropriation  of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  to  be 
taken  from  the  income  of  the  fund  created  in 
1816.  By  the  liberality  of  the  legislature,  that 
fund  had  already  been  increased  to  a  respectable 
sum. 

In  1829,  Peter  D.  Vroom,  Esq.,  was  chosen 
to  succeed  Governor  Williamson.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  new  Democratic  or  Jackson  party, 
which  had  sprung  up  since  the  dissolution  of 
the  two  old  partisan  organizations  in  1827. 

For  a  period  of  nearly  fourteen  years  after 
the  first  election  of  Vroom,  the  history  of  New 
Jersey  affords  but  few  points  of  interest  to  the 
general  reader.  In  1832,  the  National  Repub- 
lican or  Whig  party,  organized  in  opposition  to 
the  Jacksonian  Democrats,  succeeded  in  carrying 
the  state.  Samuel  L.  Southard,  formerly  Secre- 
tary of  the  Navy  under  Presidents  Monroe  and 
Adams,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  governor ; 
but,  he  being  presently  chosen  to  the  United 


256  HISTORY   OF    NEW   JERSEY.  [1837. 

States  Senate,  Elias  P.  Seely,  likewise  a  Whig, 
was  selected  to  fill  the  vacancy  thus  occasioned. 
In  the  following  year,  however,  the  Democrats 
again  triumphed;  Governor  Vroom  being  once 
more  chosen  to  occupy  the  executive  chair.  He 
remained  in  office  until  1836,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Philemon  Dickinson,  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party. 

During  this  year  events  occurred  which,  for 
a  time,  materially  changed  the  condition  of 
parties.  Financial  difficulties  of  the  most  dis- 
tressing character  arose,  causing  the  bankruptcy 
of  a  large  number  of  mercantile  houses,  and  the 
complete  prostration  of  almost  every  branch  of 
employment.  By  the  Whigs  it  was  alleged  that 
these  difficulties  sprung  from  President  Jackson's 
opposition  to  the  rechartering  of  the  Bank  of 
the  United  States ;  from  his  removal  of  the 
treasury  deposits ;  and  from  his  circular  of  1836, 
ordering  all  moneys  due  the  government  to  be 
paid  in  specie.  Whether  these  allegations  were 
true  or  not,  as  the  distress  in  the  country  had 
grown  up  under  a  democratic  administration,  it 
led  to  a  reaction  highly  favourable  to  the  Whigs. 
During  the  state  canvass  of  1837,  the  latter 
party  elected  William  Pennington  as  governor, 
to  which  office  he  was  annually  re-chosen  until 
1843. 

Meanwhile,  in  the  nation  at  large,  the  Whigs 
continued  to  augment  their  strength  until,  in 


1844.]  CONSTITUTION   AMENDED.  257 

1840,  they  elected  General  Harrison  to  the  pre- 
sidency with  an  overwhelming  majority.  Harri- 
son's death,  one  month  after  his  inauguration, 
by  placing  Vice-President  Tyler  in  the  executive 
chair,  caused  a  vacancy  in  the  speakership  of 
the  National  Senate,  to  which  the  distinguished 
Southard,  of  New  Jersey,  was  presently  elevated. 
He  thus  hecame,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  Vice- 
president  of  the  United  States. 

Though  formed  hastily  during  a  troubled  and 
stormy  period,  the  constitution  of  the  state 
had  hitherto  afforded  general  satisfaction.  Du- 
ring the  year  1843,  however,  there  were  de- 
cided manifestations  that  some  modification  of 
it  was  desired  by  the  people.  Adopted  at  a  time 
when  the  colonies  had  not  fully  resolved  upon 
independence,  it  still  retained  a  provision  for 
renewing  the  colonial  connection  with  Great 
Britain.  This  provision  was  now,  of  course,  a 
matter  of  slight  importance,  yet  it  appeared 
singular  and  out  of  place,  and  was  offensive  to 
many.  But  the  principal  objection  to  the  old 
plan  of  government  was  based  upon  the  fact  that 
it  contained,  in  far  too  small  a  degree,  those 
popular  elements  which,  in 'the  constitutions  of 
most  of  the  other  states,  had  been  more  freely 
and  fully  developed. 

After  some  hesitation  on  the  part  of  the 
legislature,  in  February,  1844,  a  convention 
of  delegates,  chosen  by  the  people,  was  sum- 
22* 


258  HISTORY  OF   NEW  JERSEY.  [1844. 

moned  to  meet,  on  the  14th  of  May  then  fol- 
lowing, in  order  "  to  frame  a  constitution  of  the 
state,  to  be  submitted  to  the  people  thereof,  for 
ratification  or  rejection." 

On  the  day  appointed  for  the  convention, 
fifty-eight  delegates  assembled.  After  some  dis- 
cussion, it  was  determined  to  frame  a  constitution 
entirely  new.  Entering  upon  its  work  in  a 
liberal  and  intelligent  spirit,  the  convention 
presently  submitted  to  the  people  an  instru- 
ment which,  while  it  remained  free  from  the 
extremes  of  an  excessive  zeal  for  reform,  exhi- 
bited the  full  acquaintance  of  its  framers  with 
the  advanced  political  science  of  the  age. 
Ample  security  was  given  for  the  rights  of  the 
people;  the  different  departments  of  govern- 
ment were  made  independent  of  each  other; 
the  governor,  hitherto  chosen  by  the  legislature 
annually,  was  now  rendered  elective  by  the 
people  every  three  years  ;  the  judiciary  was 
established  on  a  new  and  more  permanent  foot- 
ing ;  the  property  qualifications  formerly  re- 
quired of  the  members  of  the  legislature,  was 
entirely  removed,  and  the  right  of  suffrage,  re- 
stricted by  the  old  constitution  to  freeholders, 
was  now  extended  to  all  free  white  males  above 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 

Such,  in  its  more  important  features  of  im- 
provement, was  the  new  plan  of  government,  as 
ratified  by  the  almost  unanimous  voice  of  the 


1850.]  PKOGRESS   OF  THE   STATE.  259 

people,  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  August,  1844. 
From  the  period  of  its  adoption,  until  the  pre- 
sent time,  the  history  of  the  state  presents  few 
points  for  the  consideration  of  the  historian. 

The  last  governor  under  the  old  constitution 
was  Daniel  Haines,  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  elected  in  1843.  He  was  succeeded 
in  1844  by  Charles  C.  Stratton,  a  prominent 
Whig.  At  the  subsequent  canvass  in  1847,  the 
Democrats  were  again  triumphant,  re-electing 
ex-governor  Haines.  Since  that  period  the 
state  has  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party :  Governor  Fort,  the  present  execu- 
tive, being  a  member  of  that  organization. 

Having  thus  brought  the  history  of  New  Jer- 
sey to  a  close,  little  remains  to  be  said  beyond 
a  brief  notice  of  the  present  condition  and 
prospects  of  the  state.  By  the  census  of  1840, 
the  number  of  her  inhabitants  was  three  hundred 
and  seventy-three  thousand,  eight  hundred  and 
twenty-three.  The  census  of  1850  exhibits  a 
population  of  four  hundred  and  eighty-nine 
thousand,  five  hundred  and  fifty-five ;  the  ratio 
of  increase  during  the  decade  having  been 
thirty-one  per  cent.  Being  more  than  double 
the  average  of  that  of  all  previous  decades  since 
the  Revolution,  this  ratio  of  increase  affords 
cheering  evidence  that,  as  far  as  regards  popu- 
lation, a  new  and  fresh  impetus  has  been  given 
to  the  advancement  of  the  state. 


260  HISTORY  OF   NEW   JERSEY.  [1850. 

But  it  is  not  in  this  particular  alone  that  New 
Jersey  exhibits  tokens  of  a  vigorous  existence. 
Debarred  from  foreign  commerce,  her  people 
have  turned  their  attention  to  agriculture  and 
manufactures,  for  which,  by  the  diversity  of  her 
soil,  and  by  the  number  of  her  mines  and  water- 
courses, the  state  possesses  many  and  rare  ad- 
vantages. In  both  pursuits  her  citizens  have 
prospered  abundantly,  and  every  year  is  adding 
to  the  wealth  and  importance  which  they  derive 
from  them. 

Since  the  establishment  of  the  common-school 
system,  the  cause  of  education  has  been  pro- 
gressing with  a  rapidity  greater  even  than  could 
have  been  expected.  Though  established  but 
little  more  than  twenty  years,  there  are  already 
in  the  state  no  less  than  one  thousand  five  hun- 
dred public  schools,  with  an  average  attendance 
of  eighty  thousand  children.  In  addition  to 
these,  three  first-class  colleges,  and  two  theolo- 
gical seminaries,  which  are  attended  by  between 
six  and  seven  hundred  pupils.  Still  further, 
we  find  two  hundred  and  thirty  private  acade- 
mies, attended  by  more  than  ten  thousand  scho- 
lars. The  number  of  libraries,  public  and 
private,  in  the  state  amounts  to  four  hundred 
and  fifty-nine,  containing  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
one  thousand  volumes. 

No  state  in  the  American  Union  presents  to 
the  consideration  of  the  historian  a  purer  po- 


1850.]  CONCLUSION.  261 

litical  character  than  New  Jersey.  Her  soil 
was  obtained  from  the  original  proprietors  with- 
out fraud  or  oppression  in  any  instance ;  while 
in  arranging  the  future  government  of  the  pro- 
vince, the  wisdom  of  her  early  rulers  led  them 
to  adopt  such  simple  and  inexpensive  regula- 
tions as  were  best  calculated  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  people,  and  to  establish  firmly  among 
them  the  principles  of  peace,  justice,  and 
equity. 


THE  END. 


STEREOTYPED  BY  L.   JOHNSON  &  CO. 
PHILADELPHIA. 


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